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Egg Freezing for Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients
Egg freezing is an exciting and potentially “life changing” assisted reproductive procedure for women wishing to preserve their fertility. In our opinion, egg freezing technology has improved to the point that egg freezing prior to cancer chemotherapy, high dose radiation therapy, surgery or other medical conditions should be considered with appropriate counseling and informed consent. 
Prior to the advent of egg freezing, many therapies especially high dose radiation and/or chemotherapy would almost surely severely damage the ovaries and eggs. Most cancer treatments are developed with the knowledge that effective agents selectively target rapidly dividing cells such as the cancer cells, hair cells, the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, and ovarian cells, especially the eggs. However, there can be wide variations in the “damage” among different women. Some women can develop permanent “menopause” after a single chemotherapeutic regimen.
These women have little hope of producing future children using their own eggs except through the use of frozen eggs. The egg freezing process allows "harvesting" of healthy eggs prior to ovarian damage by cancer treatments or other conditions.
Primary care physicians, OB/GYN’s and Oncologists are gradually becoming more aware of the recent breakthroughs in human egg freezing. All patients (male and female) should be educated regarding the reproductive implications of their treatments and given the opportunity to freeze eggs or sperm.
If a woman decides to proceed with egg freezing, after informed consent, the eggs are retrieved after ovarian stimulation with fertility drugs, such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH, Gonal-F, Follistim, Bravelle, Menopur, etc.). These drugs cause the ovary to produce multiple eggs as ovarian follicles are directly stimulated by FSH. The eggs are then frozen for use in a future IVF cycle(s). Due to the need for a 2-3 week delay in therapy and the resulting elevated estradiol levels this therapy may not be appropriate for all women with cancer.
After a woman has been successfully treated for her cancer, when she decides that she is ready to pursue a family, she returns to the fertility clinic and undergoes an IVF cycle using her frozen eggs. A healthy woman can support a pregnancy well into her late forties and early fifties. The main limiting factor to pregnancy is poor egg quality which is hopefully avoided by using her frozen eggs retrieved prior to the cancer therapy.
Female fertility is “age related” and as aging occurs eggs lose their ability to fertilize, implant in the uterus and develop normally. This is a natural event that starts at puberty and ends at the menopause. The process can be accelerated through chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Fortunately, egg freezing/thawing allows these patients to hope for a future with their own genetically related children.
If you would like more information about this exciting but currently experimental technology please call our office to schedule an appointment with a physician. Currently significant financial discounts are offered for participation in this research.
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More women turning to freezing eggs for extended ...
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