How Cancer Treatments Affect Fertility
Cancer treatments are necessary to fight what can be a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. Some cancer patients need chemotherapy, drugs that destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells. Others need radiation therapy, where high-energy x-ray beams destroy cancer cells. These strategies might be combined with surgical intervention. Treatment is effective when cancer is caught early but is not without risk. Along with the many unpleasant side effects on record, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can damage reproductive capacity. In the future, cancer patients can struggle to conceive or become completely infertile. Before proceeding with treatment, doctors recommend oncofertility to cancer patients who hope to have children after recovery.
The power of oncofertility
Oncofertility is a marriage of oncology, the treatment of cancers, and fertility treatment. The goal is to preserve a cancer patient's fertility if there is a known risk that cancer treatment will lead to irreversible damage. This discipline seeks to keep the ability to have biological children in the future. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage the reproductive organs. Some cancers, like ovarian or testicular cancer, require radiotherapy toward these organs, leading to sterility. A specialist will work with patients and fertility teams to create approaches to satisfy the patient's desire for biological children in the future. Oncofertility seeks to minimize damage to the reproductive organs and preserve fertility options without impacting cancer treatment.
Preserving women's reproductive powers
Women undergoing certain cancer treatments can experience irreparable damage to the ovaries. With oncofertility, there is still hope for a family in the future. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is recommended for future attempts at pregnancy. Therefore, oncofertility will attempt to preserve reproductive material for future use. Egg and embryo freezing are preferred options for women. Before cancer treatment, hormone medication is provided over several days to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are then surgically extracted and cryopreserved in a fertility clinic for later use. Some eggs are combined with the healthy sperm of a partner or donor to create embryos, which are also banked for later. Ovarian tissue preservation is another new, innovative option. The ovarian cortex, the egg-producing part of the ovaries, is removed and stored via cryopreservation. This tissue can be used for egg retrieval and IVF in the future.
Men need support, too
Men also have dreams of starting or growing a family. These dreams can be derailed by a cancer diagnosis. Oncofertility also helps men by preserving reproductive cells or material for future use. Before cancer treatment, men can provide multiple sperm samples for sperm banking. The samples are washed and treated before storage via cryopreservation. An innovative strategy called vitrification creates rapid freezing without the formation of ice crystals that can potentially damage sperm. In some cases, testicular tissue can be taken and preserved for future use. Testicular tissue contains sperm cells and is a common strategy of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) used in IVF. Oncofertility is constantly evolving in the space of male fertility preservation. Induced stem cells and sperm sorting are up-and-coming options that will help the men of tomorrow.
A future with oncofertility
Oncofertility has many advantages. The strategy provides hope for cancer patients who want to have children after a long recovery. The cryopreservation options increase the chances of success. Preserving reproductive material or creating embryos now means younger, higher-quality options are available later. Oncofertility is not without risk or challenges. Patients become distraught about the possibility of infertility or sterility. Coping strategies to handle the emotional stress, ethical considerations, and financial strain are essential. In the end, these strategies help maintain hope for what can be a trying time.
