Planning to start a family can be an exciting time. But when the diagnosis of cancer precedes this opportunity, some are left feeling their dream of being a parent has vanished. Cabell Huntington Hospital now has options for individuals who may need cancer treatment, but want to start a family in the future.
“Some cancer treatments can cause infertility (inability to have children) or decrease your fertility (ability to have a child),” said Melissa Lay, director of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Lab at Cabell Huntington Hospital. “We now offer fertility preservation options for those who have been diagnosed with cancer to allow them to have a family once their treatments are complete.”
According to Lay, the process begins once the individual receives diagnosis. If requested, the patient is then referred to a fertility specialist Dr. William N. Burns, who discusses options based on the patient’s gender, age, fertility history and type of cancer.
“When a patient learns they have cancer, it is important to explore all options regarding fertility before they begin treatment. It is not an immediate process, but one that can take place over a few weeks,” Lay explained.
Women who are about to undergo cancer treatment may opt to have their embryos frozen. Embryo freezing takes place once a woman’s eggs are matured through taking prescribed medication. The doctor then removes them vaginally from the patient in an outpatient setting. The procedure takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Once removed, the eggs are fertilized in the lab and the best embryos can be frozen for future use.
“These embryos can be kept up to 15 years. We store them on-site for up to a year and then send them to a storage facility in Florida for long-term storage,” she said. “The same process takes place when a woman opts for egg freezing. The only difference is the eggs are not fertilized before freezing.”
Men also have options for fertility preservation. Before beginning cancer treatment, men can bank several sperm specimens. In some cases testicular sperm extraction via a needle can be performed.
“Men can have their sperm extracted in a simple needle biopsy procedure and then frozen and stored for future use,” Lay shared. Research has shown that sperm can be kept frozen for up to 28 years or longer. Sperm can be stored for a period of one year at Cabell Huntington Hospital’s IVF Lab and then it is sent to a long-term storage facility.
“It is important for us to offer this option. It gives people the comfort in knowing that once they complete their cancer treatments and their doctor clears them, they can then start their family,” said Lay.
Lay said the first step in assuring fertility preservation is to consult your doctor and gain a better understanding of your options.
“Your physician will be able to share with you, in detail, what is best for you and your body. If fertility preservation is an option, they can refer you to our In Vitro Fertilization Lab for a consultation so that we can explain all that is available to you,” she said.
Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine In Vitro Fertilization Lab is located in Cabell Huntington Hospital, 1340 Hal Greer Blvd, Huntington, WV. For more information on these and other options for fertility preservation, call 304.526.2652.
Cabell Huntington Hospital is a 303-bed academic medical center located in Huntington, West Virginia. Cabell Huntington is home to the Hoops Family Children’s Hospital and the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center and cares for patients from more than 29 counties throughout West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio. Opened in 1956, it is affiliated with Marshall University Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing.
