Cancer is increasing in prevalence with improved detection and diagnostic techniques so prolonging the life and improving the quality of life.It has been observed to be affecting more of younger age groups so can have a lethal effect of the future fertility by destruction of their gametes (sperm or eggs).
As doctor we feel need of spreading awareness at multidisciplinary level regarding preservation of future fertility which needs counseling and guidance at preliminary stages only before the damage happens.
Various Methods-
1. Oocyte/Egg cryopreservation·
2. Sperm Cryopreservation·
3.Embryo freezing
Method will vary as per the clinical status.At the base level all needs to have a good IVF lab with strong freezing protocols and good clinical skills else all efforts go in vain !! So do proper home work before taking a call.
Oocyte cryopreservation/Egg Freezing-
Egg freezing means removing mature eggs and freezing them for later.This process may also be called egg banking . Its done in cancer patients preferably before exposure to chemo and radiotherapy. Its same like an IVF cycle except that embryos are not formed.Here medications are given to stimulate the development of multiple follicles in the ovaries. Type of cancer can also decide the protocols.Besides there are now more patient friendly mild stimulation protocol especially in estrogen sensitive(positive) cancers. The eggs are retrieved from the patient using a transvaginal technique under anesthesia and are kept frozen for future use by a method called vitrification. Frozen eggs can be kept frozen for years(5 years as per ICMR but not specified for cancer cases) till the woman decides to use them for conception and once the patient is ready to get pregnant,the eggs are thawed and then fertilized using ICSI, an assisted reproductive technology that injects one sperm directly into the egg. The embryos(fertilized eggs) will then be transferred into the woman’s uterus (womb) inorder to achieve a pregnancy.
Embryo Freezing -
It has the highest success rate compared to any other treatment. Its like normal IVF when eggs are retrieved and mixed with sperms. Once fertilized,the embryos (fertilized eggs) grow in the laboratory for 3-5 days until theyare suitable for freezing.
Sperm Freezing-
Sperm Freezing is an effective and simplest way for men who have gone through puberty to store sperm for future use. Many men can store sperm either from natural ejaculate or from surgical retrieval of sperms(SSR).
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