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Fertility preservation for oncology


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Cancer patients who wish to have children in the future should consider freezing their reproductive cells as soon as possible.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy can affect fertility. We recommend egg freezing, embryo freezing, or sperm freezing for those who may lose their reproductive ability due to treatment. Please contact us immediately if you need urgent fertility preservation before starting cancer treatment.

Egg freezing

For female cancer patients who are about to undergo cancer treatment but wish to have children in the future, it is highly recommended to freeze their eggs as soon as possible. This is because chemotherapy and other treatments can damage or destroy egg cells, which may result in infertility or abnormal eggs that affect the quality of future pregnancies.

It is important to first consult with your oncologist to confirm whether your specific type of cancer allows for egg freezing. If approved, please request a medical document confirming that you are eligible to proceed, and bring it to consult with a fertility specialist immediately.

Sperm freezing

For male cancer patients who are about to undergo cancer treatment but wish to have children in the future, it is strongly recommended to freeze their sperm as soon as possible. Once exposed to chemotherapy or other cancer treatments, sperm cells may deteriorate or become non-viable, potentially leading to infertility or abnormal cells that could prevent the creation of healthy embryos.

It is important to first consult with your oncologist to determine whether sperm freezing is appropriate for your specific type of cancer. If approved, please request documentation confirming this and bring it to consult with a fertility specialist immediately.

Embryo freezing

For couples planning to have children in the future, if either partner is diagnosed with cancer, it is possible to undergo IVF-ICSI in advance to create high-quality embryos and freeze them. Later, when you're ready for pregnancy, the embryos can be thawed and transferred into the uterus. This is often a better option than egg freezing, as the clinic has extensive experience with embryo freezing, which is also a more commonly used method today.

It is important to first consult your oncologist to confirm whether your specific type of cancer allows for egg retrieval. Once confirmed, please request documentation and bring it to consult with a fertility specialist about IVF-ICSI treatment as soon as possible.

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The Biological Clock

This tool indicates:

  • Natural conception per month if you have no fertility issues
  • IVF success rate at the same age
  • When to seek help after months of unsuccessful attempts

If you are concerned at any stage – we recommend booking a doctor appointment or a free nurse consultation. The sooner you make a plan the better your chances in the long term.

When to seek advice early

  • If you have polycystic ovaries, endometriosis, or have been through a cancer diagnosis; we recommend you get in touch quickly so we can talk you through all your options and give you the greatest possible chance of success.
  • If you’re a single woman considering motherhood in the future; it’s best to approach us early and consider egg freezing as this can be an option for you while you have a higher ovarian reserve and healthier eggs.
Set your age and the months you’ve been trying to conceive
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Your chance of having a baby per month for fertile couples
Your chance of having a baby per IVF cycle (if experiencing infertility)

Body Mass Index calculator

Being overweight or underweight can reduce fertility, so it is important to keep your body weight within the normal healthy range.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indication of your body weight and can be calculated by dividing weight by height. You should aim for a BMI of between 20 and 25, as this will optimise your chances of conception.

Woman’s BMI below 19

Even in these modern times, nature knows best. If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

Being underweight

If a woman's BMI falls below 19, the body senses famine and ovulation is switched off to prevent the risk of having a baby with malnutrition. Excessive exercise can reduce body fat and increase muscle mass to a point where periods cease for the same reason. Risk of miscarriage is also increased in women with a low BMI.

BMI’s greater than 30

This can reduce fertility by 50%. Pregnancy for women with a 30+ BMI is often associated with problems such as maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, big babies and increased risk of caesarean section.

Add your height and weight to calculate your BMI