In the reproductive medicine world, fertility preservation for cancer patients is one of the most important subjects people discuss. Young women diagnosed with cancer can suddenly face the possibility of a life-saving treatment that affects their ability to get pregnant. Although cancer treatment and full recovery should be the number one thing on the patient’s mind, finding an effective way of preserving their fertility is another thing many of these women worry about. Thanks to modern assisted reproductive technologies. These modern technologies (IVF and egg freezing) give an option to the patients to start the family of their dreams after treatment. Here are we the best fertility clinic in San Diego, we have come up with the best care for your fertility preservation treatment.
How do cancer treatments affect a woman’s fertility?
Surgery
Reproductive cancers usually required Surgery. These are cancers that affect the Fallopian tubes, womb, or any other part of the female reproductive system. Scar tissue left when surgery performed. This can compromise a woman’s ability to conceive. In some cases, a part or all of a reproductive organ may need to be removed. Removing the reproductive organ or its part affects a woman’s fertility negatively. We know how important is this for patients to preserve the eggs before surgery. Therefore, our clinic one of the best fertility clinics in San Diego provides fertility preservation treatment for such conditions.
Chemotherapy
Most of the drugs used in chemotherapy can damage the ovaries. The reason for this is that they target cancerous cells with medications known as cytotoxins and cytostatics, which destroy rapidly growing cells or inhibit their cell division. Although the primary target is cancer cells, other cells that are quickly dividing may be affected too. At birth, all the eggs a woman will ever have are already present in her ovaries. All of these eggs mature at different levels. Some eggs will mature during each menstrual period. During normal ovulation, only one of these mature eggs will be released. The remaining eggs die and absorbed back into the body.
Chemotherapy can also damage a woman’s eggs. Eggs can get affected by Chemotherapy that is about to be released during ovulation. Once damaged, these eggs can become chromosomally abnormal and may lead to birth defects or miscarriages if fertilized. When subjected to certain types of chemotherapy, some women can even enter premature menopause. It is called premature menopause when a woman stops ovulating before 40 years of age.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy kills cancer cells in the patient’s body. It directs high-energy rays at Cancerous cells. However, nearby healthy cells may also get destroyed. Whether radiation therapy will affect a woman’s future fertility or not depends on the proximity of cancer to the reproductive tract. The closer they are, the higher the probability radiation will have a negative effect on fertility. Also, treating cancers that are close to the pituitary gland with radiation can affect a woman’s reproductive potential. Radiation may not have immediate effects on a patient’s fertility, but if, for instance, many of the eggs in the ovaries have been destroyed by radiation, the patient can enter menopause and permanently stop ovulating sooner than expected.
How can egg freezing help?
Egg freezing also referred to as oocyte cryopreservation, gives cancer patients the opportunity to “pause the biological clock” on their fertility before starting treatment. A woman’s ovaries stimulate in order to encourage multiple eggs to mature at the same time when she is under Fertility medications. Ovarian stimulation monitored timed and carefully.
Healthy and viable eggs retrieved, after a short procedure. This procedure carried out under mild sedation. The next step is the flash-freezing. Flash-freezing helps collected eggs not to lose quality. Also, Flash-freezing can store eggs for ten years or more. A woman can focus on her treatment and recovery because the flash-freezing keeps the eggs well-protected. She can use them for IVF when she’s healthy again and ready to have children. The frozen eggs offer the chance to have a genetically related child with the assistance of a gestational carrier if the patient’s womb is removed or destroyed during cancer treatment.
Embryo freezing is another alternative you may want to consider. One good thing about creating embryos is that you can have them genetically tested. This will give you a better idea of how many healthy embryos you’ll have and the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
Egg freezing and Embryo freezing procedures require good attention and carefulness. This much care can be provided only by a good fertility clinic and we are the Fertility clinic in San Diego.
Is egg freezing safe for cancer patients?
The ovarian stimulation and egg freezing process poses no danger to cancer patients, but you should talk to your physician as soon as possible if you want to explore this option. The timeline of cancer treatment and egg freezing is one important thing you need to consider. You will need to consult with the best fertility clinic and your oncology team. They will decide if it’s safe to defer cancer treatment for the time needed to complete an egg freezing cycle. In certain cases, especially when the cancer is proliferating, there may be little time between cancer diagnosis and beginning treatment.
Is egg freezing an affordable option?
Cost is one of the first things that comes to mind for many patients. However, having the ability to start a family after treatment outweighs the egg freezing cost. It’s also a good idea to look at your health insurance policy since some will cover the cost of fertility preservation.
The good news is, there are a variety of options to secure funding for your fertility treatment. Some clinics now offer affordable financing and payment plans. Plus, there are programs and charities like, Team Maggie, The Heartbeat Program and The Livestrong Foundation, that offer free and subsidized medications and financial assistance to cancer patients looking to preserve their future fertility.
The patient needs a physical and emotional toll at the time of cancer diagnosis and treatment. It can make people feeling upset, vulnerable, and withdrawn from their own bodies. With egg freezing, patients can safeguard their reproduction when they need it most. We provide the best care for such a condition fertility clinic in San Diego.
If you have additional questions regarding fertility preservation options, you can always reach out to Reproductive Sciences Medical Center, a fertility clinic in San Diego. Visit us at www.fertile.com or call (858) 436-7186 to schedule a consultation.
