17:31 9th February 2016 | Cancer

Fertility Problems Cancer Treatment Damaged Glands Egg Freezing Frozen Embryo Transfer Surgical Procedure Embryo Thawing Cryopreservation Vitrification Advanced Care Ovarian Cancer

Cancer is not an easy subject to discuss, particularly for women who want to become pregnant. Fertility problems may occur when cancer or cancer treatments damage glands or organs involved in reproduction such as the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus, and the cervix. The ovaries are particularly important because it is where the eggs are stored. Any damage to the ovaries can cause a decrease in the total number of eggs in both ovaries and these eggs cannot be regenerated.

Before you start treatment for your cancer, ask your oncologist to talk to us about what we suggest you do. Because you do have options and they involve freezing your eggs which can be used for a Frozen Embryo Transfer when your cancer treatment is over.

A Frozen Embryo Transfer is a process by which your eggs are collected in a simple surgical procedure. These eggs are fertilised by your husband’s sperm in our laboratory to create an embryo. The embryo is then deep frozen until you are ready for it to be thawed and inserted into your womb.

Eggs and embryos are frozen through a process called cryopreservation, a process that cools and stores the eggs and embryos at sub-zero temperatures in specially-designed containers. Vitrification is a newer, simpler freezing process that is often used in cryopreservation.

The process of freezing eggs or embryos is absolutely safe. It has been carefully developed by leading scientists and doctors and is used with great success all over the world. At Bridge Clinic, all our procedures are governed by our internationally accredited Quality Management System which means everything we do meets the highest international standards. The entire collection and cryopreservation process is also witnessed by two professionals so there is absolutely no chance of a mistake being made at any stage.

So if you have ovarian cancer, please do not despair. Ask your oncologist to speak to a Bridge Clinic fertility specialist.

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