“If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride-and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high but so are the rewards” Paul Bryant
Dr Richa Sharma
As we all aware that cancer of any part of the body carry with it various medical,psychological and ethical issues. Its more so a concern when it unfortunately happens to be in a younger fertile age group(be it male or female).
So as here in comes the much ignored aspect which later on doesnot give option to recover irreparable loss of fertility.
Yes dear friends here through his article I am trying enlighten common people about the concept of Fertility Preservation in cancer patients which needs awareness and multidisciplinary approach to do the best possible for a sufferer.
Fertility preservation- is a key component of cancer management in young patients.Cancer treatment often results in reduced fertility. Cancer patients should be informed of options for fertility preservation and future reproduction prior to cancer treatment.
Reproduction in the context of cancer raises a number of ethical issues related to both patient and offspring welfare.Evidence suggests that cancer treatment often commences without adequate consideration of fertility preservation and that current services could be much improved.
Early referral of patients to a fertility specialist will allow consideration and discussion of the full range of fertility preservation options.It’s a multidisciplinary approach which involves specialists in oncology, assisted reproduction, embryology and clinical genetics.
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer often poses a threat to fertility. Methods of fertility preservation are evolving quickly, yet little has been published in the medical oncology literature regarding this topic.Health-care providers should be prepared to discuss the fertility with patients regardless of their age and marital status and their families before initiation of therapy to make them understand the possible reproductive consequences of cancer treatment and know the alternatives available to preserve fertility
Psychological Concerns:
* Fear of not being able to procreate.
* Fear of dying
* Fear of passing disease to the offspring
* Fear of genetic diseases after chemotherapy or radio therapy-problems in offspring
* Fear of not being able to see their children growing
Fertility Options in Males:
* Conservative management
* Surgery
Limitations of Semen Cryopreservation:
* Physician’s failure to discuss the options
* Time limitation
* Age of the patient
* Severity of illness
* Lack of facility
* Refusal by patients
Strategies For Fertility Preservation in Females:
*Oophoropexy
*Cryopreservation
*Embryo
*Oocyte
*Ovarian tissue-cortex and even whole ovary
*Isolated follicles for IVM
*Pharmacological protection with anti-apoptotic agents
(The author is IVF Consultant Bournhall).
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