Fertility Preservation Before Cancer Treatment — Your Complete Guide

Why cancer treatment threatens fertility: Chemotherapy (particularly alkylating agents: cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil) and pelvic radiation damage rapidly dividing cells — including the eggs in the ovaries and the sperm-producing cells in the testes. The extent of damage depends on the drug type, dose, and whether the pelvis is in the radiation field. How quickly do we need to act? For women: Egg or embryo freezing requires 10–14 days of ovarian stimulation before egg retrieval. Using random-start protocols, we can begin on any day of the menstrual cycle — no waiting for a specific timing. We coordinate urgently with your oncologist to fit within the pre-treatment window. For men: Sperm freezing requires only a single visit — 2–3 samples collected over several days. This should be done before any chemotherapy begins, even one cycle. Sperm banking takes under 2 hours. Options for women: - Egg freezing: Mature eggs frozen after stimulation and retrieval - Embryo freezing: Eggs fertilised with partner or donor sperm before freezing (slightly higher per-embryo survival) - Ovarian tissue freezing: Experimental in India; available in select centres for girls/women who cannot delay treatment - GnRH agonist co-treatment: Medications given alongside chemo to 'switch off' the ovaries temporarily; evidence is supportive but not conclusive Funding and support: Maatritva IVF works sensitively with patients in financial difficulty. Some insurance plans cover fertility preservation for cancer patients — always ask your insurers.