Fertility preservation: A ray of hope for cancer patients
Recent advances in the IVF sector may allow cancer patients to keep their fertility window open for a longer period of time.
Cancer incidence in India is increasing, according to data from the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP). Nearly 1,193,000 new cancer cases were estimated in 2011, with females bearing a higher burden (603,500) than males (589,800). The total number of new cases in males is expected to rise from 0.589 million in 2011 to 0.934 million by 2026. Female cancer cases will increase from 0.603 to 0.935 million.
In India, approximately half of all cancer patients are under the age of 50. Apart from that, the alarming number of young people living with cancer has raised concerns about the impact on their fertility potential. However, recent advances in the IVF sector may allow cancer patients to keep their fertility window open for a longer period of time. Cancer patients today not only have a higher chance of survival, but they can also consider having a child and starting a family of their own.
Cancer treatments that can cause/ affect fertility?
Cancer treatment can have an impact on both men's and women's fertility. By removing the uterus or ovaries during cancer treatment, a woman's fertility can be harmed. Chemotherapy has side effects that vary depending on the drug and the dose. Chemotherapy makes younger women less likely to become infertile than older women. Depending on the location and size of the radiation field, as well as the dose administered, radiation can be more harmful to fertility than chemotherapy. However, there are many techniques that can help preserve fertility, such as egg freezing, embryo freezing, donor eggs, donor sperms, donor embryos, ovarian cortex freezing, and testicular freezing.
What is Fertility Preservation?
Fertility preservation is a procedure that secures fertile eggs, ovarian tissue, or sperms before a cancer patient undergoes treatment. It allows patients to reproduce after they have recovered from cancer. Fertility preservation is becoming increasingly important in helping cancer survivors improve their quality of life. Men and women who have been diagnosed with cancer, on the other hand, maybe reluctant to bring their fertility issues to the forefront. Patients may also be unaware of their fertility preservation options because they are preoccupied with their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Oncofertility is a term used to describe the preservation of fertility in cancer patients. It is the process of preserving eggs, sperms, ovarian or testicular tissue in order for a cancer patient to have children in the future. When a patient has overcome cancer, these can assist them in reproducing.
What are the Fertility Preservations Options for Women Diagnosed with Cancer?
Egg Freezing: Oocyte Cryopreservation is another name for egg freezing. The women's eggs are harvested following an IVF procedure in which the ovaries are stimulated with drugs known as gonadotropins and an ovum pick up procedure is performed. In this procedure, the ovum or eggs obtained are then frozen. It is kept in order to preserve the reproductive potential of women of reproductive age.
Sperm Freezing: Sperm Cryopreservation is another name for Sperm Freezing. The sperms are frozen and stored at a fertility clinic or sperm bank during this procedure. Samples can be kept for years and used at a later date.
Embryo Freezing: This is an IVF cycle in which the harvested eggs from the female partner are fertilized with the sperm from the male partner, and the resulting embryos are cryopreserved.
Ovarian Cortex Freezing: Cryopreservation of the cortex part of the ovaries, which contains the eggs, is an experimental and promising form of fertility preservation. When egg or embryo freezing is not an option, it is increasingly being used for fertility preservation in younger cancer patients.
Testicular Tissue Freezing: This procedure is recommended for prepubescent (puberty) boys who need to preserve their fertility during cancer treatment that may affect their gonads (testicular tissue)
The social stigma involved
Infertility, including egg and sperm freezing, is still considered taboo in the country. However, it is critical to openly discuss fertility-related issues with experts. Furthermore, patients must inquire about the risks involved as well as the options available for fertility preservation. Not all cancer patients experience infertility after treatment. However, prior to treatment, it is critical to observe and investigate fertility preservation options.