A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming, but modern medicine now allows young women and girls to preserve their dreams of motherhood. Fertility Preservation (Oncofertility) is the process of saving eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue before starting treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.

The Impact of Chemo and Radiation

Ovarian follicles are highly sensitive to DNA-damaging agents. Depending on the dose and type of treatment, anticancer therapies can lead to:

• Premature Ovarian Failure: Early onset of menopause.
• Reduced Follicle Reserve: A significantly shortened reproductive lifespan.
• Hormonal Shift: Markers like AMH and AFC may drop to premenopausal levels following treatment.

Why Ovarian Cortex Freezing?

For many young patients—including prepubertal girls or those who cannot delay chemotherapy for the 2 weeks required for egg retrieval—Ovarian Tissue Freezing is the only viable option. This technique protects the primordial follicles, which are hardier and less affected by radiation than mature eggs.

[Image: Illustration of Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation]

The Procedure Steps:

Restoring Fertility After Remission

Once a patient is in remission and ready to conceive, the tissue can be auto-transplanted back into the body. Modern studies show an encouraging pregnancy rate of 23% to 37% following transplantation. Emergent techniques like In-Vitro Maturation (IVM) are also expanding options for future family building.

Timing is Vital

Fertility preservation must be discussed before the first dose of chemotherapy. If you are feeling stressed or confused about your options, specialized counseling at Talwar Fertility can provide the clarity you need during this difficult time.

A cancer diagnosis is life-altering, but modern medicine now allows us to look beyond the immediate treatment toward your future quality of life. Fertility Preservation is the process of saving eggs, embryos, or sperm so that individuals can still have biological children after completing their cancer therapies.

Does Cancer Treatment Affect Fertility?

Unfortunately, chemotherapy and radiation therapy specifically target rapidly dividing cells. While this is effective against cancer, it also attacks healthy reproductive cells like spermatozoa and oocytes. The level of risk depends on the drug type:

• High Risk: Alkylating agents like Cyclophosphamide, Busulfan, and Procarbazine.
• Medium Risk: Platinum analogs such as Cisplatin and Carboplatin.
• Low Risk: Plant derivatives (Vincristine) and certain antibiotics (Bleomycin).

Radiotherapy to the pelvic area or lower abdomen also poses a significant threat to ovarian and testicular function.

When to Act?

Timing is everything. It is vital to talk to an ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) specialist as soon as the disease is diagnosed. At Talwar Fertility & Child Health Centre, we coordinate closely with oncologists to ensure fertility procedures do not delay life-saving cancer treatments.

Preservation Options for Men & Women

Fertility in Children with Cancer

For prepubertal children who cannot yet produce mature eggs or sperm, options like testicular and ovarian cortex freezing are available. While some of these techniques are still considered experimental, they offer the only hope for biological parenthood later in life. Legal consent and careful ethical weighing are mandatory for pediatric cases.

Making the Decision

Your medical team will determine the best approach based on your biopsy report, the specific type of cancer, and the window of time available before chemo-radiation begins. Being well-informed is the first step toward taking control of your reproductive future.