Fertility Preservation for Oncology patients

There are some situations where women are about to undertake treatment (usually chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for cancer or other serious medical conditions) that may make them infertile. 

There are several options that your fertility specialist will discuss with you.  The type of cancer you have, your treatment plan, your age and circumstances will all need to be considered. 

Options for preservation are:

Freezing Embryos
If you have a partner, depending on the circumstances of your relationship, you can choose to undergo an IVF cycle prior to commencing oncology treatment and any resulting embryos can be frozen for future pregnancy attempts, often years later.  

Freezing Eggs
Regardless if you have a partner, you can choose to undergo an IVF cycle prior to oncology treatment and any resulting eggs can be frozen. When the woman is ready to use her eggs, they are thawed, then fertilised with sperm (there are costs associated with this).

Ovarian Tissue Freezing
This is usually an option for patients with no time to complete an IVF cycle before their chemo/radiotherapy start.

Using Medication (Zoladex)
This option aims to protect the ovaries from damage during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment. 

Cryostoring embryos or eggs prior to treatment that may make a woman infertile gives the best chance of later having a baby.

This situation can be very complex and intense.  We always liaise closely with other physicians and teams involved in patient care.  To undertake an IVF cycle can take weeks, and cancer treatment needs to be delayed for this time.

The precise nature of the IVF cycle we recommend often depends on the time available and other individual circumstances.

We strongly recommend you link with our Counsellor who can help you get through the particular stresses of IVF treatment.

Please make provision for eggs/embryos in your will.

For further information, refer to the following link:

https://www.fertilitysociety.com.au/fertility-preservation-australia-new-zealand/