Talking with your fertility care team about fertility preservation
The fertility care team carry out procedures known as fertility preservation for young women who are diagnosed with cancer. They can talk with you about your decision to have or not have fertility preservation.
The fertility consultation depends on the clinic that you are attending, your cancer diagnosis and the cancer treatment you have planned. The fertility care team will look at your medical history to make sure that it is appropriate for you to have fertility preservation treatment. They will explain what is involved, success rates and possible side effects. If you need further tests, these will be done before fertility treatment starts. You will be able to discuss the different fertility preservation options available at the clinic.
If you choose fertility preservation treatment different tests including blood tests to measure hormone levels and other screening tests will be carried out. The fertility care team will also discuss your consenting to treatment as recommended by the HEFA.
Your cancer care team can refer you to a fertility clinic and ask them to fit you in as soon as possible to avoid your cancer treatment being delayed.
If you would like to be referred to a fertility clinic there are some things to check:
- Has a member of my cancer care team referred me to a fertility clinic?
- Have I received an appointment to see the fertility care team?
If your answer is No or Unsure you may want to ask your cancer care team to contact the fertility clinic for you as soon as possible.
You may need to ask questions at the fertility clinic. Here are some questions that might help you:
