Cancer is a life-threatening disease that comes with a great deal of emotional and physical ordeal. Another issue which makes it even more complicated for many patients is the issue of fertility. Fortunately, current progress in assisted reproduction like IVF opened other ways for every person who wants to preserve the opportunity to have a child in future. SCI IVF Hospital is a centre that offers fertility services for cancer patients to help such patients concentrate on their treatment.
Understanding Fertility Preservation
Cancer treatment can only go ahead after the eggs, sperm or embryos have been preserved in advance. Some treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation or surgery may affect the reproductive system. Fertility preservation means that the patient can start a family once they have defeated their disease.
It is frequently used for fertility preservation. Here, eggs are collected and can undergo a process of freezing (oocyte cryopreservation), or sperm is added to the egg to make embryos that are then frozen (embryo cryopreservation). These options are safety measures that allow patients to regain their dreams of being parents after cancer.
Why IVF for Cancer Patients?
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy save many lives but they have side effects such as temporary or permanent inability to conceive. In women, loss of ovarian follicles might be observed after chemotherapy and for men, sperm production decreases. IVF makes it possible for patients to take preventive measures before treatment incapacitates them.
At SCI IVF Hospital, we frequently collaborate with oncologists to develop the right treatment plans, as fertility preservation is integrated with cancer treatments. Timing can indeed be of the essence, and therefore, we aim for quick consultations and procedures so that cancer therapy can begin as soon as possible.
Steps in Fertility Preservation through IVF
- Initial Consultation: A fertility specialist is consulted by patients to explain their choices. Hormonal analysis with blood tests and ultrasound scans determines ovarian reserve or sperm count.
- Ovarian Stimulation: For women, the medications cause hormonal reactions within the ovaries to release multiple eggs. This step is closely supervised to ensure the best results within a short duration of time are achieved.
- Egg Retrieval or Sperm Collection: They are harvested through a procedure that is not invasive at all. For men, sperm is provided or surgically harvested if required.
- Freezing and Storage: Freezing of eggs, sperm, or embryos is done through vitrification, where the survival rates post-freezing is very high in case of later use.
Emotional and Financial Considerations
Cancer and fertility preservation options are daunting to anyone. Emotional needs are also very important and at SCI IVF Hospital we have very competent counsellors who will be able to support patients in these processes. We also provide affordable services for fertility preservation and assist patients in locating options for financial support.
Hope for the Future
The mortality rates of many cancers are on the rise and hence the chances of parenthood after going through treatment are real. Fertility preservation makes patients concentrate on their treatment processes since they have plans on how to have their children in future.