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Cancer diagnosis can affect the lives of young adults to a great extent, often leading them to wonder about their reproductive health. Fortunately, improvements in fertility preservation have created a very important route that can allow for preserving future reproductive options both during and after treatment. To understand these methods better we got in touch with Dr Nishi Singh, Head of Fertility at Prime IVFwho shares various available methods including egg and sperm freezing, as well as some emerging reproductive technologies.

Why Fertility Preservation Matters?

Dr Singh shares that chemotherapy and radiation therapy impact fertility and might damage reproductive organs and decrease hormone production, impairing the functionality of the eggs or sperm. Preserving fertility becomes a crucial factor for young adults who may be planning to start a family. Fertility preservation opens the possibility of conceiving post-treatment, but there is also emotional relief derived from cancer treatment.

Key Fertility Preservation Options

Dr Singh explains that there are several efficient methods for preserving fertility that are customized to fit the particular requirements and situations of cancer patients undergoing treatment.

- Egg Freezing (Oocyte Cryopreservation): Egg freezing is a very commonly used option for women requiring cancer treatment. The woman's ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs; these eggs are then extracted and frozen for future use. The best time for egg freezing is before cancer treatment begins, specifically before chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Success rates vary by clinic, but freezing technology itself has improved dramatically especially vitrification.

- Embryo freezing: The procedure involves the retrieval of eggs and letting them get fertilized with sperm so that embryos are created and then frozen. This is mainly chosen by couples or even individuals who already have donor sperm. Compared to unfertilized eggs, embryos have a better success rate for thawing and implantation, and they can be preserved for many years.

- Sperm Banking: The process of sperm banking for a man who is about to get treated for cancer. Before the start of cancer treatment, a semen sample is collected and frozen. These samples can be stored for several years; this way, they stand a better chance of conceiving successfully in the future.

- Ovarian Tissue Freezing: This new technique is mainly for women who cannot undergo hormonal stimulation for egg retrieval due to the urgency of their treatment. Ovarian tissue is surgically removed and frozen, allowing for potential future use. After cancer treatment, the tissue can be re-implanted, restoring ovarian function and potentially allowing for natural conception.

- Testicular Tissue Freezing: Another experimental approach is that of freezing testicular tissue for boys below puberty and men who cannot ejaculate and hence cannot offer a sample. Tiny little chunks of tissue from the testicle are retrieved and stored with the hope that they can be used in future techniques to produce sperm or restore fertility.

Considerations and Resources

Various factors need to be considered in the process of fertility preservation, such as the type of cancer, treatment regimen, and personal preferences. “Patients must have open discussions with their health experts, including oncologists and reproductive specialists, about what is best for them. These procedures are expensive, and financial concerns could come up throughout treatment. Certain services might be covered based on insurance coverage. It's crucial to ascertain the kind of coverage that is available and look into additional solutions that might be able to somewhat offset the cost of the therapy,” she said.

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