Oncofertility is a relatively new field in medicine and represents an interdisciplinary approach of oncology and reproductive medicine with the aim of preserving and prolonging fertility in women and men suffering from malignant diseases. 8% of the total population suffers from malignant diseases before the age of 40.
A large part of these patients did not have offspring or want more children. Treatment with cytostatics and radiation has a very negative effect on the function of the ovaries and testicles, and a number of these people will not be able to have offspring. That is why it is important to save sperm, embryos or ovarian tissue before treatment, or to remove the “ovaries” from the radiation zone surgically-laparoscopically.
Oncofertility methods are:
- IVF with embryo freezing (in women who have a partner);
- freezing of egg cells;
- freezing of ovarian tissue;
- freezing of sperm;
- movement of ovarian tissue from the radiation zone;
- combination of the above methods.
After curing malignant conditions:
- embryos are returned to the woman’s uterus;
- eggs are fertilized by the partner’s or donor’s sperm and then the embryo is returned to the uterus;
- ovarian tissue is thawed and transplanted “back” into the small pelvis, where the ovary normally is, so that the woman can later achieve a spontaneous pregnancy or possibly undergo In Vitro Fertilization;
- the spermatozoa are thawed, then they fertilize the egg cell and the resulting embryo is “placed” in the uterus;
- the ovaries can be returned to their “original” place or IVF can be performed with ovarian stimulation and egg aspiration.
Contact
For information about oncofertility as well as for consultations with our experts, contact us on the phone numbers on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or write us an email.
