The Reproductive Medical Group offers a comprehensive fertility preservation program that includes the freezing of sperm, eggs, and embryos. We also provide oncofertility services, helping to preserve the fertility of cancer patients and survivors.
At RMG, we’ve been highly successful both in egg freezing and achieving healthy pregnancies with the fertilization of cryopreserved eggs. Egg freezing is a viable and highly successful procedure for women who want to preserve their chances of conceiving with their own eggs in the future.
Sperm is often cryopreserved for men who anticipate undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, or certain surgical procedures to treat cancer or men undergoing a vasectomy or vasectomy reversal. Couples who are actively attempting conception but anticipate that the husband will be geographically separated for an extended period of time may elect to cryopreserve sperm so that it is available when the woman is ovulating.
Finally, for couples who are anticipating undergoing a cycle of IVF, if the male partner anticipates that he may have difficulty producing a semen specimen on the day of the female partner’s egg retrieval, sperm can be collected in advance under less stressful circumstances and cryopreserved. Sperm can be frozen and stored at our North Tampa location for short-term use or shipped to a long-term facility for later use.
Embryo freezing is available for couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) who are:
Current studies suggest that sperm, eggs, and embryos can be safely frozen or “cryopreserved” and thawed for future use without significant health risks to the resulting children. Furthermore, improvements in cryopreservation techniques and technologies have allowed for more eggs, sperm, and embryos to survive the thawing process.
Oncofertility is a subfield of medicine that lies at the intersection of oncology and reproductive care. The primary purpose of oncofertility is to preserve fertility options for cancer patients and survivors. Navigating the cancer treatment journey can be challenging and emotionally overwhelming, especially when exacerbated by concerns about fertility and future family-building possibilities. At The Reproductive Medicine Group, our oncofertility program provides you with guidance, education, and a compassionate approach to help you explore your family-building options.
Many life-saving cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and certain surgeries, can have a significant impact on both male and female fertility. For example, chemotherapy can temporarily or permanently harm fertility by damaging or destroying reproductive cells. Similarly, radiation can cause damage to the eggs, sperm, or reproductive organs. Certain surgeries, such as the removal of reproductive organs or procedures that affect the reproductive system, can directly impact fertility.
In oncofertility, timing plays a crucial role and involves the strategic coordination between cancer treatment and the fertility preservation procedure. Because cancer treatments can have negative impacts on fertility, it’s essential to consider your fertility preservation options before beginning cancer treatment. The timing of oncofertility interventions depends on several factors, including the type of cancer, the patient’s age, and the prescribed treatment plan.
Oncofertility offers women facing cancer the opportunity to preserve their fertility and embrace the future. The main oncofertility option for women is egg freezing, where a woman’s eggs are carefully collected and stored for later use, safeguarding them from the potentially harmful effects of cancer treatments. Another option is embryo freezing where fertilized eggs are frozen for future use. The innovative oncofertility options make it possible for women to navigate their cancer treatment while retaining the assurance that their dreams of starting a family are still possible.
Oncofertility opens up a world of possibilities for men facing cancer, providing them with options to preserve their fertility and embrace a future that includes fatherhood. The most common oncofertility method for men is sperm freezing and banking, allowing men to store their sperm before undergoing cancer treatment. Another option is testicular sperm extraction (TESE), a surgical procedure in which sperm are surgically retrieved directly from the testicles. These advanced options allow men facing cancer to focus on their health and treatment, while safeguarding their future family-building dreams.
