Fertility Preservation Before Cancer Treatments

Fertility preservation before cancer treatments at a glance

• Fertility preservation procedures (sometimes called oncofertility) are performed before cancer treatments (which can impair or end fertility) so that the woman can conceive after treatment.
• Cancer treatments that compromise fertility include radiation, chemotherapy and surgery to remove reproductive organs.
• The likelihood of fertility impairment depends on the type of cancer and the woman’s age, and the effects can be permanent or temporary.
• Fertility preservation methods may involve egg or embryo freezing (cryopreservation) or physically moving reproductive organs in the body to protect them from radiation.
• Most research suggests that the fertility preservation methods do not affect a woman’s ability to fight cancer.
• Sometimes cancer treatment must be delayed in order to complete fertility preservation procedures.

Fertility preservation procedures can help cancer patients have children in the future by cryopreserving (freezing) their sperm, eggs or ovarian tissue prior to receiving their life-saving cancer treatments. In vitro fertilization or third party reproductive options such as egg donation or surrogacy may also help survivors become parents after cancer treatment.

The University of Colorado Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects (FPRLE) Program specializes in fertility preservation, ovarian response to medical therapies, and assisted reproduction outcomes. Dr. Leslie Appiah of is the Program Director of the CU Oncofertility team where she sees patients to discuss their family planning options as cancer survivors.

For more information, contact the CU FPRLE program online.