What are the fertility preservation options for cancer patients?

Fertility preservation means saving eggs, sperm, embryos, or reproductive tissue for later. The National Cancer Institute says the options differ for men and women.

For men, sperm banking is the most common method. It means freezing sperm, and it is used after puberty. Doctors can also shield the testicles during radiation. Sperm can be taken straight from the testicle. These methods are called testicular sperm extraction and aspiration. Testicular tissue can be frozen too. That method is still being studied for boys before puberty.

For women, options include freezing eggs or embryos. One drug group, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), shuts the ovaries down. The ovaries can be shielded during radiation. They can also be moved away from it. That is called ovarian transposition. Ovarian tissue can be frozen as well. Some early cervical cancers can be treated with radical trachelectomy, a surgery that can spare fertility.

Many of these are forms of assisted reproductive technology. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most common type. Cost and success rates vary from method to method. So does how easy each one is to get. A fertility specialist can explain which options fit your cancer and your timeline. A social worker or patient navigator can help with insurance and cost.