Preserving fertility in women with cancer
Freezing unfertilized egg cells. Here, for example, eggs are frozen before chemotherapy in order to fulfill the desire to have children after recovery. This treatment method assumes that it is possible to wait at least another 2 weeks before starting cancer therapy. Hormonal stimulation allows a larger number of eggs to mature. The eggs are retrieved and vitrified in a small surgical procedure under sedation. The vitrification process freezes the eggs so quickly that no ice crystals can form in the cell wall. This is gentler and therefore the survival rate of the egg cells is high when thawing.
Freezing fertilized egg cells. This treatment method assumes that it is possible to wait at least another 2 weeks before starting cancer therapy. Hormonal stimulation causes a larger number of eggs to mature. In a minor surgical procedure under sedation, the eggs are retrieved and artificially fertilized with the partner's sperm by means of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).The fertilized eggs are then frozen (cryopreservation, vitrification).
Freezing of removed ovarian tissue. If the tissue does not contain any tumor cells, ovarian tissue can also be frozen and reimplanted after cancer treatment has been completed.
Preserving fertility in men with cancer
Freezing sperm or testicular tissue. Sperm preservation can be useful for preserving fertility before chemotherapy or other long-term planned medication. The sperm cells are obtained by ejaculation and frozen before cancer therapy. Through artificial insemination, the partner can later become pregnant with the frozen sperm cells. Alternatively, testicular tissue can also be surgically removed and frozen.
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