The Riley Children's Fertility Preservation Program aims to provide patients with the highest quality of life during and after treatment. Our program provides education and counseling for children at risk for long-term fertility or reproductive health issues. Our program also offers fertility preservation options when possible.
Fertility Services and Treatments
Fertility Services and Treatments
Survival rates among pediatric and adolescent cancer patients continue to increase due to the development of more effective cancer treatments. As a result, many childhood cancer survivors are reaching their reproductive years and wish to start their own families. However, certain cancer treatments may impact your child's ability to have children in the future.
Before their cancer treatment starts, it is important to have a conversation with your child's doctor about any fertility questions.
We understand that planning for your child's future after a cancer diagnosis is complex and may feel awkward.
Our program works closely with patients and caregivers to help inform you of the information to make the best decision for your child's future.
Our team takes a comprehensive approach to providing infertility risk counseling, fertility preservation options and reproductive/sexual health in patients receiving treatment that is harmful to the reproductive organs.
Our team of highly-skilled providers addresses the complex health care and quality-of-life concerns our young cancer patients face, whose fertility may be threatened by their specific cancer or its treatment.
Cancer treatments that can affect a child's fertility include:
- Surgery, which may include the removal of one or both sexual reproductive organs (testicles or ovaries)
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
Side effects of cancer treatments that may affect fertility include:
- Changes to sperm production in boys, most often a decrease in sperm produced by the testes
- Lowered number of eggs in girls
- Changes in hormone production, such as a decrease in estrogen or testosterone
- Harm to healthy cells in the reproductive organs
Your child's primary oncologist will consult with our team when diagnosed with cancer. One of our specialists will determine if there is a low, medium or high risk of cancer treatment affecting your child's long-term fertility. Then, we will discuss options together and help you determine the best plan.
Fertility Preservation Options
Fertility preservation options for patients with male reproductive organs include:
- Semen cryopreservation (freezing the semen)
- Referrals for removing reproductive organs or tissues to preserve them
- Testicular tissue cryopreservation (freezing testicular tissue)
Fertility preservation options for patients with female reproductive organs include:
- Use of medication to suppress periods (menstruation) that may help preserve eggs
- Oocyte cryopreservation (freezing the egg before fertilization)
- Embryo cryopreservation (freezing a fertilized egg)
- Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (freezing the tissue of the ovaries)
- Referrals for preserving reproductive organs or tissues
Our specialists have extensive clinical experience working in fertility preservation. Our team includes:
- Pediatric oncologists
- Pediatric urologists
- Adolescent gynecologists
- Reproductive endocrinologists
- Nurse practitioners
- Physician assistants
- Genetic counselors
- Nurse Navigators
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
Services Offered
We offer a number of different Fertility Preservation Program services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our program.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
4.7 out of 5 stars
(491 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyUrology
317.688.5500
4.8 out of 5 stars
(88 ratings)
Score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized NRC Health Patient Experience Survey.
Learn About SurveyAdolescent Medicine
317.944.8812
Locations
Patient & Family Resources
Patient & Family Resources
Below is a list of services provided by Riley Children's to help support your child and family through their cancer care with us. These are just a few of the support services provided.
Learn more about our Patient and Family Support Services.
Resources
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With our school program, your child does not have to miss out on important education while receiving treatment.
Related Programs & Departments
Related Programs & Departments
We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.
Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
Refer A Patient
To refer a patient to the Fertility Preservation Program, please call 317.944.2143.
Refer A PatientResearch
Ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News & World Report, Riley’s Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases is affiliated with the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center for clinical care.
Riley Children’s is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group Phase I Consortium. Patients can access the latest clinical trials and leading-edge medications, all while under the care of highly skilled providers.
Education
The Fertility Preservation Program at Riley Children's helps train the next generation of pediatric hematologists and oncologists. Pediatric oncology/hematology fellows at the Indiana University School of Medicine learn about the latest advancements in personalized cancer treatment by spending part of their training with our team.