Fertility preservation is a technique through which you can delay your pregnancy and can freeze your eggs for the future. With advanced technologies and improved survival rates among cancer patients, fertility preservation is of high importance. With the help of several techniques of fertility preservation, female cancer patients can preserve their fertility.
Oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing), ovarian tissue freezing, and ovarian transportation can be the possible options for fertility preservation for all young patients with cancer. Chemotherapy impacts the fertility of female cancer patients and fertility preservation is a great option for preserving their fertility. Let’s understand what the options for fertility preservation for cancer patients are.
Oocyte Cryopreservation
Egg freezing includes a few steps. The initial step is the stimulation of the ovaries, then retrieving the eggs from the ovaries, and preserving them for future use. This technique is considered a good method for female cancer patients. This method helps preserve the eggs of female cancer patients before cancer treatment and provides the flexibility to use them in the future when they want to conceive.
The cost of this technique may vary as per the facilities provided at the clinic. Storage of these eggs is for a longer duration and does not have several negative effects. Eggs can be stored in specific conditions for years. For this process, it is necessary to find an expert fertility specialist who has already performed it. You can consult with the best infertility doctor in Lucknow to understand each step of this process in detail.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing
Ovarian tissue freezing is a surgical process in which a surgeon gives anesthesia to the patient and then makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a narrow tube that is a laparoscope. The surgeon removes tissue from the surface of one ovary which contains immature eggs. The tissue is carefully divided into small pieces, and then frozen and stored in the lab under specific conditions. The tissues were carefully monitored and preserved for future use. Frozen ovarian tissue can be kept for many years in specially equipped storage facilities where tissues are protected and preserved.
Ovarian Transportation
Ovarian transportation is a surgical process that means moving the ovaries out of the pelvis before radiation treatment of cancer patients. Surgeons usually move the ovaries above and to the side of the central pelvic area. The success rate of this process may differ and patients should be aware that this technique is not always successful.
Progesterone Therapy
For women who are facing endometrial hyperplasia, early-stage cancer, or slow-growing cancer of the lining of the uterus. The treatment would be hysterectomy which means surgery to remove the uterus. Women with early endometrial cancer who still want to have a child can be treated instead with the hormone progesterone through an intrauterine device or pill. Most of the fertility experts suggest that young women with uterine cancer should not freeze ovarian tissue because they are at high risk of ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Suppression
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists hormone drugs are used to make women go into the menopause phase for a short time. This is called ovarian suppression. This treatment reduces the ovaries’ activity and protects them from damage during cancer treatment. It is a simple and safe measure for women undergoing chemotherapy.
Things To Know Before Considering Fertility Preservation in Female Cancer Patients
You can also visit the Best IVF Centre in Lucknow to understand fertility preservation procedures. Female cancer patients who want to conceive a baby in the future must select a clinic that has advanced equipment, an experienced team of fertility experts, healthcare services, post-treatment care at the clinic, financial and emotional support, and medical facilities. Make sure that you understand the whole process with your specialist and discuss your concerns with them to reduce the risk of complications. This will also help you in making an informed decision.
Conclusion
Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation negatively impacts the woman’s reproductive system. Fertility preservation is a gift for female cancer patients who want to conceive in the future. The timing of fertility preservation plays an important role for female cancer patients. There are multiple fertility preservation processes for female cancer patients. Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation), embryo freezing, Ovarian tissue freezing, progesterone therapy, ovarian suppression, and Ovarian transportation are fertility preservation methods for female cancer patients.
Also Read – Things To Consider Before Freezing Your Eggs
