A diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming, and sometimes the life-saving treatments prescribed may threaten a patient’s ability to conceive children in the future. There is a small window of opportunity between cancer diagnosis and treatment in which a patient can pursue fertility preservation.
The mission of The Oncofertility Consortium at Main Line Fertility is to support and educate patients about their fertility preservation options. We understand that patients are eager to start their cancer treatment as soon as possible. That's why we prioritize oncofertility patients by offering immediate appointments, allowing them to preserve their fertility while still beginning their treatment quickly. We also provide discounts on anesthesia and medications.
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Fertility Preservation Methods
For individuals preparing to undergo cancer treatment, there are several options available for preserving fertility, including:
Egg Freezing
Individuals with eggs can freeze them for future use ahead of their cancer treatment. The egg freezing process involves ovarian stimulation, which requires self-administered injections to mature the follicles. Once the eggs are ready, the doctor will collect the eggs using a needle attached to a catheter. This procedure only takes about 20 minutes at our state-of-the-art surgery center, and most patients return to work the following day.
Once the eggs are collected, they undergo a process called vitrification, which involves rapid freezing to preserve their quality. After vitrification, the eggs are carefully placed into liquid nitrogen storage containers in our laboratory. They will remain securely stored until ready for use.
Sperm Freezing
When an individual wants to freeze their sperm ahead of cancer treatment, the first step is to supply a sperm sample. This is usually done through masturbation into an approved, sterile container. Then, we conduct a laboratory analysis to ensure there is enough sperm in the sample and that it’s healthy. Once cleared, we carefully freeze the sperm in our state-of-the-art laboratory for future attempts at pregnancy.
Embryo Freezing
A couple with eggs and sperm may undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create fertilized eggs (embryos). This process involves ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, the collection of a sperm sample, and then fertilization of the egg and sperm in a petri dish. The resulting embryos can then be tested for any genetic abnormalities and safely frozen and stored until ready for use.
