Fertility Preservation: What You Need to Know
Fertility preservation is the process of saving or protecting eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissue so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future. Fertility preservation can be beneficial for people who face a risk of losing their fertility due to medical conditions or treatments, such as cancer, endometriosis, or gender transition. Fertility preservation can also be an option for people who want to delay childbearing for personal or professional reasons.
There are different methods of fertility preservation available, depending on the individual's sex, age, health status, and reproductive goals. Some of the most common methods are:
- Embryo cryopreservation: This involves harvesting eggs from the ovaries, fertilising them with sperm in a laboratory, and freezing them for later use. Embryo cryopreservation is the most established and effective method of fertility preservation for women, as it has high success rates and can be used with various assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
- Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation): This involves harvesting eggs from the ovaries and freezing them without fertilisation. Egg freezing is a newer and less proven method than embryo cryopreservation, but it has some advantages, such as allowing women to preserve their fertility without having a partner or using donor sperm. Egg freezing can also be used with ARTs, such as IVF.
- Ovarian tissue freezing: This involves surgically removing a piece of ovarian tissue and freezing it for later use. Ovarian tissue freezing is an experimental method that is mainly used for young girls or women who cannot undergo hormonal stimulation to produce eggs. The frozen tissue can be transplanted back into the body or used to produce eggs in a laboratory.
- Sperm freezing (sperm cryopreservation): This involves collecting sperm from the testicles or ejaculate and freezing it for later use. Sperm freezing is the most established and effective method of fertility preservation for men, as it has high success rates and can be used with various ARTs, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF.
- Testicular tissue freezing: This involves surgically removing a piece of testicular tissue and freezing it for later use. Testicular tissue freezing is an experimental method that is mainly used for young boys or men who cannot produce sperm. The frozen tissue can be transplanted back into the body or used to produce sperm in a laboratory.
Benefits of Fertility Preservation
Fertility preservation is a personal decision that requires careful consideration of the benefits and risks involved. Some of the benefits are:
- It can increase the chances of having a biological child in the future.
- It can reduce the stress and anxiety associated with losing fertility.
- It can provide more options and flexibility for family planning.
What are the Risks of Fertility Preservation?
Some of the risks are:
- It can be costly and not covered by insurance.
- It can have physical and emotional side effects, such as pain, infection, hormonal changes, or ethical dilemmas.
- It does not guarantee a successful pregnancy or a healthy child.
If you are interested in fertility preservation, you should talk to your doctor and a fertility specialist as soon as possible. They can help you understand your options, answer your questions, and guide you through the process. You should also discuss your fertility preservation plans with your partner, family, or friends, as they can provide support and advice.
Fertility preservation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather a personalised choice that depends on your unique situation and goals. By learning more about fertility preservation, you can make an informed decision that is best for you and your future family.
Sources
- Debbo Africa: https://debbo.africa
- What is fertility preservation? | NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/infertility/conditioninfo/fertilitypreservation
- Fertility preservation: Understand your options before cancer treatment - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/fertility-preservation/art-20047512
- Fertility Preservation: Purpose, Procedure Options & Benefits. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17000-fertility-preservation
- Fertility Preservation > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/fertility-preservation