Fertility Preservation Options For Men And Women

Fertility Preservation Options For Men And Women
By Grace E Henderson

Being diagnosed with cancer can be very painful especially for young women who dream to bear children in the future. Every so often, cancer treatments affect a person's capacity to conceive. In women, those who are undergoing cancer treatment before the age of thirty have the best possibility of becoming pregnant after cancer cure. Good news for young women who stop menstruating for the duration of cancer treatment, regularly after they stop chemotherapy, they'll start having periods again.

In men, infertility issues can happen as well. At times, men are recommended to undergo surgery to remove the affected area of his body. Testicular surgery, testicle removal, prostate or bladder surgery and any type of surgery that interferes with ejaculation can affect man's ability to procreate. In addition, hormonal therapies used to manage prostate or other cancers can have a negative effect on man's fertility.

Fertility preservation has helped cancer patients maintain their fertility, or capability to produce offspring. Before undergoing cancer treatment, it is important for the health care provider to provide options to the patient regarding fertility preservation. Discussing fertility options carefully with the health care provider can ease concern about whether the patient can still bear children in the future.

Often, doctors would discuss with the patients the risks involved and success rates of the fertility preservation methods. Married couples or individuals in a relationship considering children in the future should weigh in the cons and pros of treatment.

The most common fertility preservation methods in women include embryo freezing, ovarian transposition, radical trachelectomy and fertility sparing surgical procedure. Diem Brown, star of MTV's Real World/Road Rules "Challenge" series was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. At age 23, she had her first ovary removed including part of her fallopian tubes and several lymph nodes. Now, at age 30, she is facing the same dilemma. She needs to have her second and last ovary removed. But before she does, she opt to undergo fertility preservation methods like egg freezing because she has plans to conceive in the distant future.

In men, available fertility preservation procedures include sperm banking and radiation shielding. These procedures are to be done prior to cancer treatments to have a better success of maintaining fertility.

Dealing with cancer and the possibility of becoming infertile can be a very distressing moment for both men and women. Before undergoing cancer treatment, patients are advised to consult with their health care provider about the different fertility preservation available. Certainly, these treatments are not cheap. Those who cannot afford to pay for treatment can look for sponsoring events that are in the business of raising funds in help those in need of fertility preservation procedures but unfortunately unable to pay for the treatment.

Read more about Fertility Preservation for Cancer Patients here.

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