Oncofertility - Preserving Fertility During Cancer Treatment

Oncofertility is a field that focuses on fertility preservation options for individuals undergoing cancer treatment that may impact their future reproductive health. It involves the use of assisted reproductive technologies to help cancer patients retain their ability to have biological children.
Category
Medical Specialty
Where to get
Services provided in fertility clinics and specialized oncofertility centers.
Applicable for
Cancer Patients Seeking Fertility Preservation
Prepared by Nick Harper, reviewed by Dr. David James Simpson

Oncofertility FAQ


Image credit: cifarivf.com

What is Oncofertility?

In 2006, Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University, coined the term “oncofertility” to refer to a new field of medicine that connects oncology with reproductive health. Dr.

Why is Oncofertility important after cancer treatment?

The ability to easily preserve fertility prior to cancer treatment can provide hope at the time of diagnosis for families later in life. Oncofertility also incorporates reproductive issues after cancer treatment, such as family planning, complex contraception, hormonal management throughout survivorship, surrogacy, and adoption .

What is the Oncofertility Consortium?

The Oncofertility Consortium was founded to develop strategies for multiple disciplines to come together for the urgent and unmet need of addressing fertility issues among young cancer patients. [The consortium] is kind of this corridor of communication between people who may not have had to manage fertility for cancer patients before.

What is an Oncofertility consultation?

In an oncofertility consultation, you are an urgent case and providers have to think about a whole different set of ways to help you navigate care. It sets off the need to talk with the oncologist, to understand what the care plan is, and then to tailor the fertility intervention accordingly.

Oncofertility References

If you want to know more about Oncofertility, consider exploring links below:

What Is Oncofertility

  1. https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2019/woodruff-oncofertility
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncofertility
  3. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13669-021-00312-5

Oncofertility Information

  1. https://www.cclg.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Member%20area/Treatment%20guidelines/CCLG_Oncofertility_Final_Oct2019.pdf
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6150802/
  3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949713223000253
  4. https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO.19.00337
  5. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41571-021-00595-w

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