Cancer treatments like chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy and reproductive surgery can affect a patient’s fertility. If you are still considering having children, or want to have more children following treatment, Hoag Family Cancer Institute can offer referrals to discuss fertility preservation options for all families. Working in close collaboration with reproductive endocrinologists and other healthcare specialists, Hoag offers options including fertility-preserving surgery and fertility-conserving medication therapy.Fertility preservation options include:
Egg freezing
Embryo freezing
Fertility preserving surgery
Gestational surrogacy
Egg, sperm or embryo donation
Our specialists will partner with you to ensure you are informed of your options to make the best decision for your individual situation before you begin cancer treatment. Fertility preservation works best if initiated prior to your cancer treatment. These options, such as egg or embryo freezing or sperm donation, can be completed within approximately two weeks, so as not to compromise the initiation of your cancer treatment.Here are some helpful questions to consider during your office visit with your oncologist:
Are there alternative treatment approaches to reduce the risk of infertility?
What are the options for fertility preservation, tailored for my cancer?
Would fertility-preserving treatments increase my health risk as it relates to my cancer?
Will it be ok to delay treatment for me to do fertility preservation?
Will it be safe for me to carry a pregnancy in the future and if so, how long after my cancer treatment should I wait to proceed?
These are some questions to consider asking your fertility specialist:
What are the short or long term effects of cancer treatment on my fertility?
How long does fertility preservation take?
After treatment, how will I know if I am fertile or infertile?
If I decline preservation options now and/or those options are not successful for me in the future, what are other options for creating my family?
If as a result of my cancer it is determined that it is unsafe for me to carry a pregnancy, what are my options?
How much does fertility preservation cost?
Hoag appreciates the importance that you may place on having fertility preservation options available in advance of your cancer treatment. Our goal is to help determine the best fertility preservation option for you. Getting information before beginning cancer treatment will help you make an informed choice. Please contact us at 949-7-CANCER if you have questions about fertility preservation.