Preserving Your Fertility

Women and men of reproductive age who have been diagnosed with cancer may also be faced with concerns regarding their fertility. Many life-saving cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, may reduce or severely limit fertility by destroying sperm and eggs. Often, sperm production may return following cancer treatment, however, ovarian function may be permanently impaired and premature menopause may occur.

For our patients with cancer, who want to preserve the ability to conceive, there are a number of options available.

For men, semen samples may be frozen, prior to chemotherapy or radiation. Sperm may be stored for years and used later. If time allows, women may be treated with IVF, prior to starting cancer therapy. Embryos created via IVF can then be frozen and stored, and used later for insemination. Patients may also consider egg donation to conceive following cancer treatment.

Other experimental options, such as egg freezing, and freezing of ovarian tissue, are also possible but worldwide experience with these techniques is limited.

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. Patients will be faced with many decisions and are often urged to begin therapy immediately to cure the malignancy. At RMA of Philadelphia, we understand these challenges and work one-on-one with our patients to find the most appropriate and timely solutions available to get through these difficult decisions and also realize the dream of parenthood.

For more information about the fertility preservation options available at RMA of Philadelphia, please contact us at info@rmaphiladelphia.com.