Fertility preservation
Find a specialistSometimes the journey to parenthood means delaying the decision to have children. Fertility preservation gives you the option to start a biological family at a time that works best for you.
Our team understands what an important decision this is, and we’re here to help safeguard your options. This can include freezing eggs, sperm and embryos. Together, we’ll develop a fertility plan that helps you welcome a family when you’re ready.
What is fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation is a process to save or preserve eggs, sperm and embryos in case you want to have children at a later date.
Unlike fertility treatments and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) that focus on helping you conceive now, fertility preservation focuses on protecting your ability to have a family in the future.
Who needs fertility preservation?
Many people make the decision to preserve fertility by freezing eggs or sperm because they will be undergoing cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation or surgery, which could damage the ovaries or testicles. Other diseases can impact your fertility as well, including autoimmune conditions such as lupus and reproductive system concerns like uterine fibroids and endometriosis.
Some people take this step because they want to preserve eggs during their most fertile years, giving them the flexibility to have children later in life or when they find the right partner.
No matter your reason for considering fertility preservation, our specialists are here to help you make the choice that best meets your goals.
Why your most fertile years matter
Your fertility declines as you age, making the time you choose to freeze your eggs or sperm important.
Women are most fertile in their late teens through their 20s. Men don’t experience the sudden decline in fertility that women do, but male fertility does slowly decline after about 35. They are generally most fertile in their 20s through early 30s.
This doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant after 35. Only that the quality and quantity of your eggs or sperm start to decrease. This decline matters in fertility treatment. You want to freeze the best quality eggs and sperm to increase your chances for successful pregnancy later. For that reason, we recommend freezing eggs or sperm before age 35.
Who performs fertility preservation?
Our reproductive endocrinologists perform all fertility preservation services and have specialized training in fertility and hormone health. They will guide you through this journey and work with you to find the best approach for you and your family. They can also help with IVF and any additional fertility testing needed.
Fertility tests before preservation
Before freezing eggs, sperm or embryos, your fertility specialist or endocrinologist will often recommend basic fertility testing:
- Fertility testing for women often includes an ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve (the quantity and quality of eggs that remain in the ovaries).
- Fertility testing for men typically involves a semen analysis, which involves assessing the concentration, shape and movement of the sperm.
These tests provide important insight into how your body may respond to treatment and will guide your individualized preservation plan.
Navigating fertility after cancer
Many cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy and radiation, can damage reproductive cells or organs. While this is sometimes temporary, other times the damage is permanent.
Navigating cancer can be scary enough without the pressure to make a decision about children. You can choose to freeze eggs or sperm so you still have a choice to begin a family at a later date.
If this is something you’d like to pursue, talk to your doctor or one of our fertility specialists about your options.
What are the methods of fertility preservation?
You have several choices for fertility preservation, and our team will guide you through each one during a one-on-one consultation. All services are handled in comfortable, discreet surroundings that respect your privacy.
Types of fertility preservation services that we offer include:
Known as oocyte cryopreservation, freezing eggs is a process that takes about two to three weeks.
You’ll begin with daily hormone injections that will stimulate your ovaries to mature multiple eggs instead of just one. This takes about 10 to 14 days, and you’ll stop by the clinic every few days to check your progress.
Once the eggs are produced, you’ll receive a final “trigger” injection to complete the maturation. About a day later, your doctor will retrieve the eggs during a short procedure. It can be done in as little as 30 minutes under sedation (a type of anesthesia that makes you feel calm and relaxed, often putting you into a light sleep).
From there, our team confirms that the eggs are mature and flash-freezes them instantly. We can keep the eggs frozen until you’re ready to use them.
Freezing sperm is much simpler than freezing eggs and can be completed in one to three clinic visits.
Once you’ve met with a specialist and completed any necessary blood tests, you’ll provide a sample in a private room at the clinic. We recommend abstaining from sex or masturbation for two to five days prior to providing a sample. This helps ensure you get the highest sperm count.
Our team will analyze the sample for sperm count, motility (movement) and shape. We then remove any non-viable cells and freeze the sperm. We can store it for as long as you like. We also recommend providing additional samples in case you want to pursue multiple pregnancy attempts later.
An embryo is a fertilized egg and forms when an egg and sperm are combined.
The most common reason for freezing embryos is when IVF produces more embryos than needed. The extra embryos can be frozen in case multiple IVF attempts are needed or if you want more children in the future.
The process mirrors the process for freezing eggs, including needing regular hormone injections. Once retrieved, the egg is fertilized with sperm from a partner’s or donor’s sample.
The embryo is grown in our lab for several days before being placed in a safe substance to prevent ice crystals and then rapidly frozen. We can store the embryos until you’re ready to attempt pregnancy.
IVF is a form of assisted reproduction technology (ART) that often follows fertility preservation.
Once a viable embryo has been created – or thawed if previously frozen – it can be implanted in a woman’s uterus. The entire process can take six to eight weeks, and success rates depend largely on a woman’s age.
If you’re considering IVF, be sure to meet with a fertility specialist.
What should I expect with fertility preservation?
Your experience will depend on the exact method of fertility preservation you are receiving.
For egg and embryo freezing, you will need to begin daily hormone injections at home about 10 to 14 days before your procedure. The procedure itself only takes about half an hour. You shouldn’t feel pain or discomfort, as you’ll receive a sedative, but you may experience bloating or discomfort in your abdomen leading up to the procedure and possibly for a few days afterward.
For sperm freezing, you won’t need to take any medication or injections prior to the procedure. You should plan to abstain from sex and masturbation leading up to the collection day. You’ll be provided with a private room where you masturbate and ejaculate semen into a cup. If you think you may need assistance to ejaculate, speak with your provider. They can provide a medication to help or discuss other options.
What are the advantages of fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation allows you to potentially have a biological child at some point in the future. If you are currently experiencing a condition that may impact your fertility, or if you are not ready to have a child now but may wish to in the future, fertility planning gives you more options when it comes to conceiving.
What are the risks to fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation is safe but does come with minimal risks.
Most of the risks stem from the side effects of fertility medications and hormone injections. Occasionally a woman’s ovaries overreact to the medication. Known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), it can cause swollen, painful ovaries, nausea and shortness of breath. Cases are usually mild and resolve on their own.
There are some risks associated with the procedure itself, including bleeding, infection or complications during egg retrieval, but these are uncommon. Most cases are successful without any complications.
How much does fertility treatment cost?
Fertility preservation, treatment and IVF costs can vary depending on what package or service you select. Learn more about fertility costs to determine which is best for you.
Starting your fertility journey
Navigating fertility is a complex and emotional process – one that often comes with many questions. We can help with frequently asked fertility questions, and prepare you for your first fertility consultation. You can also call us at 877-358-0833 to schedule an appointment or learn more.
Be sure to take advantage of additional resources like our fertility guide and maternity services.
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