Reproductive options for patients with cancer

A cancer diagnosis may mean that your oncologist recommends a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or both. These treatments can result in a temporary or sometimes permanent loss of fertility as the reproductive organs are very sensitive to these agents. For this reason it is essential to discuss your options before commencing treatment.

Our experts at 92 Harley Street  hold strong links with local and regional haematology and oncology specialists and have helped cancer patients to preserve their fertility since 1998.

For male patients

Freezing sperm prior to any cancer treatment is the most effective way of preserving fertility. This can be done on more than one occasion if time permits. Advances in techniques such as ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) make the freezing of even a small quantity of sperm a viable option. (Click here for more info)

For female patients

Egg freezing and embryo freezing

Both of these techniques require a process similar to IVF treatment (Click here for more info). Recent advances mean that shorter protocols may only delay cancer treatment by approximately 10 days to 2 weeks from the time of your period to collecting eggs. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy may then be commenced shortly after this time. The eggs collected may then be frozen directly (egg freezing) or alternatively fertilised with a partner's or donor sperm before freezing (embryo freezing). The technique of embryo freezing is well established and provides the most reliable method of fertility preservation that is available currently. Egg freezing is a more experimental approach to fertility preservation with only a few livebirths in the UK. However this method may be suitable for those patients who are single or may not be in a long-term relationship at the time of diagnosis. Newer methods of freezing and thawing eggs mean that this technique is likely to be more successful in the future.

Ovarian tissue freezing

Several small strips from the outside of one of the ovaries are removed by laparoscopy (key-hole surgery). This tissue containing immature eggs is then frozen until a suitable time after which it may be transplanted back (grafted) on to the ovary. This is an experimental procedure with a few reported livebirths.  Our laboratory at IVF Hammersmith is one of only a handful of centres in the UK to hold a licence allowing this form of storage of immature eggs. 

This form of treatment may be considered for those patients who need to commence cancer treatments without delay and may also be suitable for those patients for whom IVF carries other risks.

Egg donation and surrogacy

For those patients who may not want to consider or who are not suitable for the above options then egg donation, surrogacy or adoption may be options for having a child in the future.