Fertility Preservation

Fertility preservation is the process to save or protect one's egg, sperm or reproductive tissue so that a person can use them to have biological children in the future. Our board-certified REI physicians are experts at providing individualized care for patients desiring to preserve their fertility. Several fertility preservation options are available:

Fertility Preservation Options for Women

Chemotherapy and Radiation can affect your ovaries and your egg supply. The type and duration of chemotherapy and radiation can increase your risk of not being able to produce eggs in the future. Unfortunately, we cannot predict how your ovaries will respond until after you complete your cancer treatment. Many cancer survivors desire the opportunity to start a family after their treatment. Here are options for fertility preservation:

• Embryo Banking

  Medications are given to stimulate your ovaries and then mature eggs are removed through an office procedure and fertilized in the lab with sperm to create embryos. Embryos can be frozen for future use.

• Egg (Oocyte) Banking

  Medications are given to stimulate your ovaries and then mature eggs are removed through an office procedure and then frozen for future use.

• Ovarian Transposition

  Ovaries are surgically moved higher in the abdomen and away from radiation to minimize exposure.

• Ovarian Tissue Banking*

  Part or the entire ovary is removed through a surgical procedure and then frozen.

• Ovarian Suppression*

  Medications are given to induce a menopause state to protect the ovaries. The cost of the different procedures varies. We have partnered with the LiveSTRONG Foundation to decrease the cost. If you are interested in proceeding with fertility preservation please contact our office to arrange an appointment 210-450-9500.

Fertility Preservation Options for Men

Chemotherapy and Radiation can affect sperm production. The type and duration of chemotherapy and radiation can increase your risk of not being able to produce sperm in the future. Unfortunately, we will not know how your sperm production will be affected until after you complete your cancer treatment. Many cancer survivors desire the opportunity to start a family after their treatment. Here are options for fertility preservation:

• Semen Banking

  A semen specimen is produced, analyzed, frozen and stored for future use. Either bring a sample (within 30 mins of collection) or collect at our office. We recommend 2-7 days of abstinence. We will analyze the sample and then freeze it in as many vials as possible. Sometimes we recommend multiple collections to freeze more samples. After your cancer treatment, you can collect another sample and then we can analyze it to see if your cancer treatment affected your sperm. Semen Banking is the most successful and least expensive way to preserve your fertility. It should be done before cancer treatment starts. Sperm can be frozen for many years.

  Cost: The total cost of semen freezing varies. The total cost for the analysis, freeze and one year of storage is usually around $525.

  When you are ready to start a family and have semen banked you have two options depending on the semen analysis results Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): The semen is thawed and a physician uses a catheter to inject the specimen into your partner’s uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF): Your partner’s ovaries are stimulated and then her eggs are collected through a procedure. Your sperm is combined with the eggs in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are then placed back in your partner’s uterus or frozen.

  1. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI): The semen is thawed and a physician uses a catheter to inject the specimen into your partner’s uterus.
      
  2. In vitro fertilization (IVF): Your partner’s ovaries are stimulated and then her eggs are collected through a procedure. Your sperm is combined with the eggs in the laboratory. The resulting embryos are then placed back in your partner’s uterus or frozen.

  If you have questions or are ready to schedule an appointment please contact us at 210-450-9500. Our clinic is on the 5th floor of the MARC Building- 8300 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229. We are open at 7:30 AM Monday through Friday and closed on holidays and weekends. Please call at least a day in advance if you are dropping off a specimen.

  If you are inpatient receiving chemotherapy, a family member can bring the specimen to our clinic within 30 minutes of collection with notarized semen cryopreservation form, identification form, photo ID of patient, payment and specimen in a supplied sterile cup.