Fertility Preservation / Gamete Freezing-Need Of The Hour

 

Fertility preservation involves safeguarding and securing embryos, eggs, sperm, and reproductive tissues, enabling the possibility of having children in the future. This option is available to adults and, in certain cases, even children of both genders. It's often sought by individuals facing compromised fertility due to health conditions or diseases (medically-indicated preservation) or those opting to postpone childbirth for personal reasons (elective preservation).

  fertility-preservations

Personal motivations for delaying childbirth might include waiting to find the right partner or spouse or choosing to wait until one is more established in their career.

WHY IT IS NEEDED?

1.Age: Postponing parenthood due to career aspirations, educational pursuits, or waiting for the right partner might prompt considerations for preserving eggs or sperm before fertility declines.

2.Cancer: Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and cancer-related surgeries can significantly impact fertility.

  • Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, along with their treatments, can potentially lead to fertility issues.

  • 3.Reproductive Health Conditions: Conditions like endometriosis and uterine fibroids might pose challenges in achieving pregnancy.

  • 4.Transgender Care: Gender-affirming treatments can affect reproductive abilities, making it advisable to consider saving embryos, eggs, or sperm before undergoing such treatments.


  • FERTILITY PRESERVATION METHODS IN WOMEN

  • 1.Egg Freezing: Hormonal treatment stimulates egg production in the ovaries. The eggs are then retrieved, frozen, and stored for future use.

  • 2.Embryo Freezing: Similar to egg freezing, eggs are collected and fertilized with sperm, creating embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). These embryos can be implanted immediately or cryopreserved for later use.

  • 3.Ovarian Tissue Freezing: For urgent cases like cancer treatment, where there isn't time for hormone therapy, ovarian tissue can be surgically removed and frozen. After treatment, the tissue can be reimplanted, potentially restoring fertility.

  • 4.Ovarian Transposition (Oophoropexy): This procedure relocates the ovaries away from radiation exposure during treatment, moving them from the pelvis to the abdomen.

  • 5.Radiation Shielding: Lead shields or specialized radiation techniques are used to protect the ovaries during radiation therapy, minimizing radiation exposure to preserve fertility.

Fertility Preservation Techniques In Men

Radiation shielding: This is similar to radiation shielding for women. Your provider will limit radiation exposure to your testicles by shielding them or by using more precise radiation techniques.

For fertility preservation:

  • 1.Sperm Freezing: Men can provide a semen sample for freezing and storage.

  • 2.Testicular Tissue Freezing: In cases where sperm isn't present in the semen, specialists can remove a sample of testicular tissue, potentially containing sperm. Any found sperm are extracted and then frozen for future use.

Fertility preservation in children facing conditions like childhood cancer is essential. Options such as ovarian and testicular tissue freezing become available, while sperm, egg, and embryo freezing are viable post-puberty. Younger children might benefit from radiation shielding and ovarian transposition.

Here's the procedure:

  • Thawing and Fertilization: When ready for pregnancy, the fertility team thaws the frozen specimen. Eggs or sperm are then used in the fertilization process to create embryos. These embryos are implanted into the uterus or a surrogate.

Advantages and Success:

  • Biological Parenthood: Fertility preservation offers the possibility of having a biological child despite health conditions or circumstances.

  • Success Varies: Procedures like egg, sperm, and embryo freezing have a history of success for some individuals. However, the effectiveness of other methods is less established, and success varies due to various health and treatment-related factors.

Discussing with a Specialist:

  • Optimal Timing: It's best to initiate fertility preservation procedures as early as possible.

    • Before starting cancer treatment.

    • Prior to gender-affirming treatment.

    • Before age 35 for women without immediate plans for children.

    • Following diagnosis of conditions that may impact fertility.

For those who've undergone treatments reducing fertility, consulting a specialist about fertility preservation options is crucial.

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