Clinical Information for Reproductive Specialists
| Introduction | The Oncofertility Consortium® works with clinical experts to investigate the efficacy and safety of fertility preservation techniques and pregnancy after cancer. |
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| Preserving reproductive options BEFORE and DURING cancer treatments | Many current fertility preservation techniques require controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) prior to oocyte or embryo banking. Important information about COS includes:
Fertility preservation options are also available that do not require hormonal stimulation:
Table adapted from Starting the Conversation: Fertility Preservation for Women Diagnosed with Cancer. SaveMyFertility.org (2011). |
| Reproductive options AFTER cancer | Pregnancy Rates After Cancer Several factors need to be accounted for when predicting the change of future pregnancy when banking embryos or eggs. First of all, one must consider the anticipated ‘success’ of a controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) procedure, in terms of stimulation characteristics, oocyte yield, fertilization rates, etc. Next, it is important to predict actual pregnancy rates from cryopreserved oocytes or embryos per transfer cycle. |
| Treatment Flow | 
Figure adapted from Jacqueline S. Jeruss, M.D., Ph.D., and Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. Preservation of Fertility in Patients with Cancer. N Engl J Med 2009; 360:902-911 |
| Other topics |
About the Author
Jennifer Mersereau, MD, MSCI, is an reproductive endocrinologist in the University of North Carolina’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As the Director of the Fertility Preservation Program, she has extensive experience guiding patients and physicians through the oncofertility experience.
This page was last updated March 14, 2012.