Oncofertility

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Oncofertility Services in Tennessee

Don’t let cancer or other serious diagnoses get in the way of your fertility goals. We offer counseling, treatment and support to discuss the possibility of preserving your fertility for when you’re ready again.

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What is Oncofertility?

Oncofertility is a relatively new field of study that involves the fertility of cancer patients post-treatment. Reproductive endocrinology researcher Teresa Woodruff coined the term in 2006 and founded the Oncofertility Consortium in 2007. Since then, the question of preserving fertility has been increasingly popular among cancer patients who are still within their childbearing years.

At Tennessee Fertility Institute, our doctors work intimately with the patient on a case-by-case basis to determine the best solution to preserve their fertility. Before starting cancer treatment, it is essential to address any concerns regarding your future fertility with your physician. An open discussion will help you plan your cancer treatment and explore your fertility options.

The Benefits of Oncofertility

Oncofertility preservation is not limited to oncology patients who will face chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other types of oncology-related surgical treatment. Patients requiring bone marrow, stem cell transplants, and even some with rheumatic diseases may benefit from our fertility preservation program.

  • Helps safeguard your fertility
  • Freedom to have kids when you’re ready
  • Ability to screen for genetic abnormalities

Fertility Preservation Options

There are steps patients can take to help safeguard their fertility. These fertility treatments focus on storing sperm, eggs, or embryos before you undergo cancer treatment or another medical procedure. Once you complete this treatment and are healthy again, the stored sperm, eggs or embryos are available to use.

  1. Sperm Banking

    Sperm banking (sperm freezing) is done before medical treatment begins. Semen samples are typically produced privately in the office, but for males who have no sperm in their ejaculate—due either to an obstruction or testicular dysfunction—there is the option of undergoing surgical sperm retrieval. Once collected, the sperm is assessed, processed, cryopreserved (frozen) and stored at our laboratory for future use via intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization.

  2. Egg Banking

    This is one of the newest innovations in assisted reproduction. Egg banking, also called egg freezing or social freezing, takes about two weeks to complete. Once your eggs are retrieved, they are cryopreserved through a process called vitrification and stored until you are healthy enough to become pregnant.

    This new technology potentially allows women to bank eggs without having a significant other and alleviates the stress of immediately identifying a sperm source. Again, collaboration with the treating physician is critical.

  3. Embryo Banking

    Embryo banking (embryo freezing) involves harvesting a woman’s egg(s) and inseminating the eggs with sperm in the laboratory to produce an embryo for future use through IVF. Like egg banking, the embryo cryopreservation process takes about two weeks.

    The resulting embryos are cryopreserved (frozen) and stored until you are healthy enough to become pregnant. Collaboration with your oncology physician is critical.

Find Out if Our Oncofertility Program is Right for You

Fertility is personal—your care should be, too. If you’re interested in exploring your options, request a consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Let’s make a baby, together. 

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