Summary of the fertility preservation options
No Fertility Preservation
Who is it for?
Young women who want to wait and see; already completed family; do not wish to have a pregnancy after cancer treatment; need to start cancer treatment straight away; do not have fertility preservation options available to them.
Chance of having a baby
Variable. Depends on how your ovaries have been affected by your cancer treatment.
Effect on the health of baby
No effect.
Fertility treatment side effects
No fertility treatment side effects.
Delay to start cancer treatment
No delay.
Effect on the cancer coming back
No effect.
Egg Freezing
Who is it for?
Young women who do not have a partner; do not want to use partner or donor sperm; do not choose embryo freezing because of their beliefs; have time to go through a cycle of fertility treatment before starting cancer treatment.
Chance of having a baby
Variable. Young women under 35 who store 10 eggs have approximately a 40% chance of having a baby. Women over 35 years old will have a lower chance.
Effect on the health of baby
No data to suggest health of baby will be affected.
Fertility treatment side effects
Headaches, mood changes, hot flushes, and irritation of the skin; levels of the hormone oestrogen go up (not safe for women who have an oestrogen sensitive breast cancer); chance of infection or bleeding; damage to other pelvic structures (not safe for women with pelvic cancer).
Delay to start cancer treatment
Around three weeks.
Effect on the cancer coming back
No data to suggest this will affect the chances of the cancer coming back.
Embryo Freezing
Who is it for?
Young women who have time to go through a cycle of fertility treatment before starting cancer treatment; young women with a male partner as both eggs and sperm are needed for fertilisation.
Chance of having a baby
Variable. Young women under 35 who store 10 eggs have approximately a 50% chance of having a baby. Women over 35 years old will have a lower chance.
Effect on the health of baby
No data to suggest health of baby will be affected.
Fertility treatment side effects
Headaches, mood changes, hot flushes, and irritation of the skin; levels of the hormone oestrogen go up (not safe for women who have an oestrogen sensitive breast cancer); chance of infection or bleeding; damage to other pelvic structures (not safe for women with pelvic cancer).
Delay to start cancer treatment
Around three weeks.
Effect on the cancer coming back
No data to suggest this will affect the chances of the cancer coming back.
Ovarian Tissue Freezing
Who is it for?
Young women who do not have time to freeze embryos or eggs; who cannot use fertility drugs; girls who have not reached puberty.
Chance of having a baby
Newer method of fertility preservation. Live birth rates of about 25 in 100 (25%) worldwide.
Effect on the health of baby
No data to suggest health of baby will be affected.
Fertility treatment side effects
Involves surgery, so damage to bladder or bowel; chance of infection or bleeding. A risk that the tissue could contain cancer cells. Prior to use of the tissue it will be screened for cancer cells and so may not be able to be autotransplanted.
Delay to start cancer treatment
Up to a few days.
Effect on the cancer coming back
No data to suggest this will affect the chances of the cancer coming back.
Ovarian Suppression
Who is it for?
Young women undergoing chemotherapy; girls who have reached puberty.
Chance of having a baby
It is unclear if this method makes it more likely that you will be able to have a baby after treatment.
Effect on the health of baby
No data to suggest health of baby will be affected.
Fertility treatment side effects
Hot flushes; mood changes; difficulty sleeping; vaginal dryness.
Delay to start cancer treatment
No delay.
Effect on the cancer coming back
No effect.
