Fertility Preservation Program
Fertility preservation has emerged as a crucial aspect of health care. It affords individuals facing medical treatments (such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy) that may compromise their fertility an opportunity to safeguard their ability to have biological children in the future. Fortunately, people who face a cancer diagnosis now have options to preserve their chances of one day having a baby with their own sperm or eggs.
There are other circumstances in which people may pursue fertility preservation. These include conditions that may cause infertility, like endometriosis or diminished ovarian reserve, and those affected may also seek fertility preservation. People approaching their mid or late 30s may consider freezing their eggs to extend the window of time when they can conceive. Transgender individuals interested in becoming parents in the future may elect to freeze their sperm or eggs before they transition.
Our Fertility Preservation Program encompasses a range of services tailored to meet one’s individual needs. At the heart of this program lies a commitment to empowering individuals with knowledge and understanding. It is designed to help people freeze their eggs, embryos, sperm, testicular tissue, or ovarian tissue for future use. This offers the chance to build a family when the time is right.
Our Services
The process starts with a consultation with a reproductive specialist, who will review a patient’s medical and reproductive history and provide direction, as far as testing and preservation options are concerned. Depending on the underlying motivation and the nature of the situation, options are reviewed. Options may include:
- Egg Freezing: This approach involves the use of hormones to stimulate the maturation of multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and frozen. This option can take a few weeks to complete.
- Embryo Freezing: Similar to egg freezing, hormones are used to mature multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and combined with sperm to generate embryos, which are then frozen. This can also take a few weeks to complete.
- Sperm Freezing: In most situations, sperm can be obtained through natural means, frozen, and stored for later use. In some situations, sperm is obtained by surgical means and then frozen.
- Testicular Tissue Freezing: Testicular tissue can be surgically obtained and then frozen. Sperm can be extracted from the tissue after thawing and used to fertilize eggs.
- Ovarian Tissue Freezing: When a medical condition leaves no time to freeze eggs, ovarian tissue can be surgically obtained. After treatment is completed and it is deemed safe to get pregnant, the tissue can be re-placed into one’s body.
The reproductive specialist will work with patients and their other providers to afford them the opportunity for the most appropriate preservation option.
Our Approach
This process can be stressful, and part of that stress may be financial. Our program is equipped to provide resources and guidance along these lines. Our coordinators review and discuss insurance coverage with patients before they begin treatments. In Connecticut, insurance companies are required to cover the costs of fertility preservation for patients with cancer who are age 40 or younger. It is possible that those without cancer who are planning to preserve fertility have insurance coverage for the process. Whether covered or not, our program will provide information on the financial aspects of the process.
Our specialists know that those seeking fertility preservation are often going through an emotionally fraught time, whether they’re facing cancer treatments or an advancing biological clock. Our goal is to move the process forward quickly without making those considering options feel pressured or rushed. We are a team of patient-centered experts who stay updated on this rapidly advancing field. Ours is a group of empathetic listeners who strive to make people feel comfortable and confident in their decision to attempt fertility preservation.
