Don’t Let a Diagnosis Sacrifice Your Dreams Learn about the Fertility Preservation Process

3 Steps to Egg and Embryo Cryopreservation

Step 1. History & Evaluation

Your history and cancer type/location will determine the next steps for fertility preservation. Your TFC physician will consult with your oncologist to determine if it is possible to overcome two potential roadblocks. Your oncologist may not want us to proceed if fertility medications will “feed” your cancer or if a delay in treatment will adversely affect your outcome.

If we agree that fertility preservation is a viable option, we will perform a physical exam that includes an ultrasound to evaluate your ovaries. We want to measure the ovaries and look at the number of resting follicles (egg sacs) to make sure that proceeding with a fertility preservation procedure is appropriate.
This evaluation phase will move very quickly. TFC will work with your oncologist, OB/GYN and other physicians as needed to gather the information we need to move forward.

Please note: Because we will freeze genetic material, a simple blood panel for infectious disease screening is required by the FDA before we can proceed.

Step 2. Ovarian Stimulation

Your TFC physician will determine the best stimulation protocol based on your particular medical condition to maximize your chance for success while minimizing any risk to your health. preservation.

Your prognosis will also determine how much time TFC has to implement fertility. Because time is of the essence when we are trying to rescue fertility, ovarian stimulation will begin quickly. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) will be used to facilitate the development of multiple eggs in the ovaries. Other hormones, including birth control pills, Lupron, and/or Cetrotide may also be used to optimize your response to stimulation. During this phase, you will be seen every few days for vaginal ultrasounds. Bloodwork may or may not be needed with these ultrasounds.

Step 3. Egg Retrieval

Once the ovarian follicles have grown sufficiently, you will take a final injection that encourages the eggs to mature as much as possible prior to their removal.. The egg retrieval is a 20 minute outpatient procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. The egg retrieval is followed by one hour of recovery. There are no incisions; your physician will remove the eggs transvaginally using an ultrasound.

Fertility Preservation for the Future

Due to significant advances in cancer treatment, more and more patients are surviving cancer and proceeding with their desire to start or expand their family. Cryopreservation helps to preserve your eggs, embryos, or sperm until you decide it’s time to enlarge your family.

When that time comes, you will schedule a follow up appointment with your TFC physician to design a unique treatment plan using your preserved eggs, sperm, or embryos.

We hope that, when cancer or other serious illness strikes, you will consider trusting TFC with your future fertility. It is our goal to give you the very best care possible during a potentially difficult time – and help you to expand your fertility options so that you can ultimately have the family of your dreams…