Explore fertility preservation at Women’s Health Texas

If you’re planning to conceive in the future, you may want to pursue fertility preservation. Choosing a fertility preservation method now can help establish a successful and healthy pregnancy later. Preservation options include egg, sperm and embryo freezing, and they can help patients take control of their fertility.

Elective egg freezing

Egg freezing can help patients with a cancer diagnosis who have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It also great option for those undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART) who do not consider embryo freezing an option. This type of fertility preservation can also help those who would like to preserve their fertility for other reasons.

If you currently have a cancer diagnosis and have not yet started chemotherapy or radiation therapy, contact our office immediately. We can help you preserve your fertility.

Elective sperm freezing

As the name suggests, sperm freezing is a procedure to preserve sperm for future use. You may want to discuss sperm freezing with your doctor if you fall into the following categories.

• About to undergo a vasectomy
• Have a low sperm count or low sperm quality
• Find it difficult to produce a sample on the day of fertility treatment
• Have a medical condition that may result in infertility later in life
• Facing medical treatment that may affect fertility

Embryo freezing is another option

Embryo freezing is the process of fertilizing the egg (oocyte) with sperm. The laboratory then freezes the embryo for future use. This option is in the IVF process, as it increases opportunities for implantation success per IVF cycle.

Reasons to explore fertility preservation

Patients can preserve eggs, sperm and embryos for many reasons.

• Preserve fertility for patients who need surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy to treat illnesses like cancer
• Save healthy eggs for women when they are ready to conceive in the future
• Protect fertility options of women with a family history of early menopause
• Protect and reserve eggs or sperm prior to military deployment
• Preserve sperm for a planned fertility procedure, like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF)

Options for fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment

Cancer and cancer treatments can significantly affect fertility and the body’s hormone system. If you or your partner is diagnosed with cancer and have to undergo cancer treatments, you can opt for fertility preservation methods much the same way you would to normally plan for a later pregnancy.

Our fertility preservation options, including egg freezing, can be effective before chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Our procedures frequently work even if the patient doesn’t come in until after cancer treatments have started. Men undergoing surgery or cancer treatment also have fertility preservation options, including sperm banking, testicular tissue freezing and testicular sperm extraction.

Contact us to learn more about preserving your fertility for the future.