Fertility Preservation Program

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