Cancer incidences in India are increasing, according to data from the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP). Almost 1,193,000 new cases of cancer were estimated in 2011, with females bearing a higher burden (603,500) than males (589,800). The total number of new cases in males is expected to rise to 0.934 million in 2026 as compared to 0.589 in 2011. Whereas female cancer cases will increase to 0.935 million from 0.603 respectively.
In India, approximately half of cancer patients are under the age of 50. Aside from that, the alarming amount of young people affected by cancer has raised concerns about the impact on their fertility potential. However, recent advances in the IVF sector can help cancer patients ensure healthy fertility for a longer period. Cancer patients today have not only a better chance of survival, but they can also consider having a baby and building a family.
Why is there a concern in the first place?
Cancer treatment can have an impact on both men’s and women’s fertility. Cancer in reproductive organs can sometimes only be fully treated after the removal of the uterus and ovaries, which inturn affect the ability to conceive. On the other hand, certain side effects of chemotherapy also cause infertility; however it’s less likely to affect young women. It at times comes down to the location and the size of the radiation field. However, there are many techniques that can help preserve fertility, such as egg freezing, embryo freezing, donor eggs, donor sperms, donor embryos, ovarian cortex freezing, and testicular freezing.
Fertility Preservation – A hope for family
Fertility preservation is a procedure that secures fertile eggs, ovarian tissue, or sperms just before cancer patients undergoing treatment. It allows patients to reproduce after they have recovered from cancer. Fertility preservation is becoming progressively important in helping cancer survivors improve their quality of life. Men and women who have been diagnosed with cancer, on the other hand, may be reluctant to bring their fertility issues to light. Patients may also be unaware of their fertility preservation options because they are preoccupied with their diagnostics and therapy. Oncofertility is a term used to describe the preservation of fertility in cancer patients. It is the process of preserving eggs, sperms, ovarian or testicular tissue in order for a cancer patient to have children in the future. These can be beneficial as it would help the patient to have a chance to reproduce after getting treated.
Fertility Preservations Options for Individuals Diagnosed with Cancer
- Egg Freezing: Oocyte Cryopreservation is another name for the procedure. The women’s eggs are harvested following an IVF procedure in which the ovaries are stimulated with drugs known as gonadotropins, and an ovum pick up procedure is performed. In this procedure, the ovum or eggs obtained are then frozen. It is kept in order to preserve the reproductive potential of women of reproductive age.
- Sperm Freezing: Sperm cryopreservation is another name for the procedure. During this procedure, the sperms are kept frozen and saved at a fertility clinic or sperm bank. Samples can be kept for years and used at a later date.
- Embryo Freezing: It entails an IVF cycle in which the female partner’s harvested eggs are fertilized with the male partner’s sperm, and the resulting embryos are cryopreserved.
- Testicular Tissue Freezing: This method is proposed for barely pubescent (puberty) boys who need to preserve their fertility during cancer treatment that may affect their gonads (testicular tissue).
- Ovarian Cortex Freezing: Ovarian cortex freezing is a novel and promising method of fertility preservation that entails the cryopreservation of the ovaries’ cortex, which contains the eggs. When egg or embryo freezing is not an option, it is increasingly being used for fertility preservation in fairly young cancer patients.
Removing the Social Stigma
Infertility, including egg and sperm freezing, is still considered taboo in the country. However, it is critical to openly discuss fertility-related issues with experts. Furthermore, patients must inquire about the risks involved as well as the options available for fertility preservation. Not all cancer patients experience infertility after treatment. However, prior to treatment, it is critical to observe and investigate fertility preservation options.
