Didactics-Fertility Preservation before cancer treatment

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The field of fertility preservation before cancer treatment is expanding rapidly due to improving survival rates in cancer. Fertility preservation is the process of saving or protecting reproductive cells so that a person can have biological children in the future. There are several methods of fertility preservation for women, including cryopreserving reproductive cells such as eggs or embryos, or freezing ovarian tissue. Cryopreservation methods can take up to two weeks, while ovarian tissue freezing can be done within days if facilities are available. For men, sperm banking is the most common method of fertility preservation. However, there are barriers to fertility preservation, such as cost, timing, and lack of awareness or knowledge among doctors and patients. Efforts are being made to overcome these barriers, including public-funded fertility preservation programs and expanding oncofertility networks. Furthermore, post-cancer treatment follow-up is important to ensure reproductive health and provide appropriate counseling and support. Overall, oncofertility is an evolving field that aims to provide fertility options and support for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

Asset Subtitle

Jennifer Ko
January 2024

Keywords

fertility preservation

cancer treatment

reproductive cells

cryopreservation

ovarian tissue freezing

sperm banking