Fertility Preservation

At Coastal IVF, we provide affordable fertility preservation options for eggs, sperm, and embryos.

Our team is here to support you through every step of the process, ensuring your reproductive options are safeguarded for the future.

Oocyte (egg) Freezing:

• Age is the most significant factor influencing female fertility. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have, and as she ages, both the quantity and quality of her eggs decline. Notably, egg quality begins to deteriorate significantly after age 35, leading to reduced fertility and increased miscarriage rates.
• Egg freezing offers a way to pause your fertility, allowing you to safeguard your reproductive options by preserving your eggs before they age further. This procedure lets you take control of your family planning and future.
• Why Consider Egg Freezing? Women may choose to freeze their eggs for various reasons, including personal choices related to education, career, travel, or social circumstances, as well as medical conditions such as diminished ovarian reserve, endometriosis or cancer treatments.
• Ovarian Reserve Testing: Patients may undergo tests to evaluate ovarian reserve (a blood test called an AMH, or an ultrasound called an AFC). It is important to understand that these unfortunately do not assess egg quality, which is the biggest factor affecting fertility rates.
• The Procedure: Egg freezing involves undergoing an IVF cycle, where hormone therapy stimulates the production of eggs. A minor surgical procedure is then performed to retrieve mature oocytes, which are subsequently cryopreserved for future use.
• Storage and Future Use: Frozen eggs can be stored indefinitely, and success rates primarily depend on the woman’s age at the time of retrieval. When you decide to use your frozen eggs, a frozen embryo transfer cycle prepares your uterus. After thawing, the eggs are fertilized with sperm to create embryos for implantation.
• When to Freeze Eggs: The ideal time to freeze your eggs varies for each individual, but it is generally recommended to consider doing so before your mid to late 30s to maximize egg quality and success rates.

Sperm Preservation:

• Why Consider Sperm Preservation? Sperm freezing is commonly used by men undergoing cancer treatment, those with genetic conditions, or individuals who wish to delay fatherhood for personal or professional reasons. This option ensures that your fertility remains viable, regardless of future circumstances.
• Procedure: Sperm preservation involves collecting and cryopreserving sperm for future use. This process is typically carried out through masturbation; however, in certain cases, surgical extraction may be necessary. A sperm analysis is performed to assess quality and help counsel on number of collections to perform.
• Indications: Commonly used by men undergoing cancer treatment, those with genetic conditions, or individuals wishing to delay fatherhood for personal or professional reasons.
• Storage Duration: Frozen sperm can be stored for many years, often indefinitely, without any loss of quality. This long-term preservation enables you to make family-building decisions on your timeline.

Embryo Preservation:

• Indications: Patients undergoing IVF may opt to freeze embryos for future cycles or when facing concerns about age-related fertility decline. This option is also beneficial in medical situations where immediate pregnancy is not possible, providing peace of mind and preserving reproductive options.
• Procedure: After fertilizing eggs with sperm in the laboratory. After a few days of cultivation, the resulting embryos are frozen for future use, allowing for flexibility in family planning.
• Storage Duration: Frozen embryos can be stored for many years while maintaining their viability for later transfer. Success rates for embryo transfer depend on various factors, most notably the age of the egg source at the time of fertilisation.

Elective vs Medical Fertility Preservation:

• Elective (Social) Fertility Preservation:
  • Elective fertility preservation is often chosen by individuals or couples who wish to delay starting a family for personal, educational, or career-related reasons. This option offers peace of mind by enabling them to preserve their reproductive potential for the future.

• Medical Fertility Preservation:
  • Medical fertility preservation is designed for individuals facing medical conditions that could impact their fertility, such as cancer or significant medical conditions. This option is critical for those requiring treatments like chemotherapy or radiation, which can jeopardise their reproductive health.

If you have any questions or need specific assistance regarding fertility preservation options, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support you on your journey!

We have listed some common questions below:

1) Will fertility preservation delay my cancer treatment?

Many studies indicate that fertility preservation can typically be completed within a short timeframe (around 10-14 days) and that this delay has not been shown to negatively impact cancer prognosis or outcomes. However, clinical judgement and the individual situation of the patient (type of cancer, urgency of treatment) always play essential roles.

2) Will fertility preservation affect my prognosis?

Current data suggest that fertility preservation methods, such as oocyte or embryo freezing, do not negatively impact oncological outcomes. However, this area continues to be studied, and individual health conditions and types of cancer treatments can influence this.

3) What are the chances of future fertility with/without fertility preservation?

The effects of different oncology treatments on fertility can vary widely. Common therapies, such as chemotherapy may lead to ovarian failure. While fertility preservation is not a guarantee of a successful outcome, modern IVF pregnancy rates are robust, significantly improving your chances of having a family in the future.

4) Are there methods which can be implemented to reduce the impact upon my cancer treatment?

There are modifications to standard IVF procedures designed to facilitate a prompt or even immediate initiation of an IVF cycle. These measures can considerably shorten the time required for fertility preservation. Additionally, certain medications or treatment adjustments may help mitigate potential risks associated with fertility preservation (e.g., elevated oestradiol levels). The specifics of your treatment plan will be customised and thoroughly discussed with you.

For the most accurate and comprehensive information, talk to your fertility specialist. They can provide tailored advice based on individual health profiles and the most recent evidence in fertility preservation and oncology care.

What to do next?

Contact our clinic on (07) 5443 4301 or Make An Appointment