Cancer is a challenging and complex disease that has unfortunately become more prevalent worldwide. It knows no boundaries, affecting people of all ages, races, religions, and genders. Whether or not we have a family history, our genetics can predispose us to develop cancer at any point in our lives.
Oncofertility is an emerging field that bridges fertility with oncology, providing cancer patients and survivors with options to preserve their fertility and the chance to become parents in the future using their own gametes. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can significantly damage or even destroy a person’s reproductive cells, making future conception impossible. Fortunately, as cancer survival rates continue to rise due to advancements in diagnosis and treatment, fertility preservation options are becoming more accessible.
The Role of Oncofertility in Cancer Care
An increasing number of cancer patients are seeking fertility preservation before undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This proactive approach allows them the opportunity to have children later in life, even after the treatments that could otherwise compromise their fertility. Oncofertility offers a critical pathway for patients to safeguard their fertility during cancer treatment, empowering them to plan for their future family.
One of the most effective techniques in this area is cryopreservation, or the freezing of human gametes (eggs, sperm, or ovarian tissue). This allows cancer patients to store their reproductive cells for future use, giving them the chance to become parents once their treatment is complete. For many patients, the ability to preserve their fertility can even serve as a source of motivation to fight the disease.
Cryopreservation and Emergency Fertility Preservation
Each year, thousands of cryopreservations are performed, offering cancer patients the opportunity to use their gametes in the future. In situations where cancer treatment needs to begin immediately, some fertility clinics provide emergency services for gamete freezing upon request by the oncologist. This wasn’t an option just a few years ago, but it’s now a valuable service that allows patients to preserve their fertility before starting any cancer treatment that might impair it.
Depending on how much time the patient has before beginning oncology treatment, various gametes or tissues can be stored—such as ovarian tissue, eggs, or sperm. A consent form will be signed, detailing the instructions for the storage and potential use of the gametes in the future.
Fertility Preservation Across Age Groups
Cancer does not discriminate by age, and more than 20% of cancer patients are in their reproductive years, with many in their 40s. As science and medical technologies continue to innovate, fertility preservation for cancer patients is opening new doors to hope for the future.
While we still have a long way to go in the battle against cancer, oncofertility provides a vital opportunity for patients to preserve their fertility and future dreams of parenthood. Although we haven’t won the fight against cancer yet, every step forward we take—especially in preventing side effects like infertility—marks a significant victory.