Should cancer patients prioritize fertility preservation?

A cancer diagnosis can turn one’s world upside down. Suddenly, several tests lined up, treatment plans and hard choices. Amidst this chaos, a critical question often gets left behind, “will I be able to have a baby after this treatment?”

Fortunately, with rapid advancements in medical sciences, it is possible to achieve parenthood after cancer. The trick is to act fast without delays or negligence.

Latest advancements making it possible to preserve fertility for cancer patients

Fertility preservation now has several options, making it possible for cancer patients to have children in the future.
Egg & Embryo Freezing: Women can go for egg or embryo freezing before beginning cancer treatment, preserving their best chances of conceiving. Owing to the efficiency of vitrification technology, this process is not just safe but also faster.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing : This is an effective alternative for women with not enough time to go for egg freezing. This procedure lets the doctor freeze ovarian tissue for later purposes.

Sperm Freezing: A simple, effective method where doctors preserve male sperm for future use before the patient starts with their cancer therapy.

Testicular Tissue Freezing: This is an advanced procedure option for boys who haven’t started producing sperm yet.

Most cancer patients don’t realize that they have such fertility preservation options. Fertility preservation is now more common and successful than ever. The right step is to consult a fertility specialist before starting cancer treatment.

Make that well-informed decision at the right time

In reality, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation can have permanent damaging effects on fertility.

Some patients think that they’ll be fine once the treatment is completed, only to realize later that their chances of conceiving have majorly reduced.

Thus, timing is everything. The sooner a cancer patient starts with fertility preservation, the better the success rate. Dr. Ila Gupta further shares, “We always tell our patients to not wait it out. A timely consultation with a fertility doctor before cancer treatment can decide your future family planning.”

Choose the right fertility doctor at a trusted certified clinic.

Cancer is already a tough battle on all levels, be it physical, mental or emotional. Concerns about fertility add to the overwhelm. The right doctor at a fully equipped fertility clinic can do wonders for your process.

A professional fertility doctor will:

Brief you about preservation options in a simplified manner.
Work with your oncologist to fit fertility preservation into your treatment timeline.
Provide strong guidance and support at every step of the process.

Cancer is a battle that can be won with timely action and determination, however, you don’t have to give up your dream of having a family.

Modern fertility preservation techniques have brought miracles to the lives of many cancer survivors. The right decision today can change tomorrow for the better.

Dr Ila Gupta, Director & Sr. Consultant Reproductive Medicine at Ferticity IVF & Fertility Clinics