Fertility Preservation
Patients who require treatments that may harm future fertility may choose to schedule a consult to discuss fertility preservation options. For patients anticipating chemotherapy or radiation, appointments can be scheduled within 1-2 weekdays of the initial request. Several options are available. Sperm and embryo banking are proven methods of fertility preservation that do not require participation in a research protocol.
Sperm banking
Candidates: Males who have gone through puberty.
Considerations: Cost: $287 per sample, $200 annual storage fee. Samples vary; patient may store as many samples as possible before cancer treatment.
Embryo banking
Candidates: Females who have gone through puberty and have a male partner or females who are willing to use donor sperm.
Considerations: Cost: Procedures $9400; Medications $1500 – $4500; $200 annual storage fee. Ovarian stimulation prior to egg retrieval can be tailored to patient’s diagnosis and timeline.
Egg and ovarian tissue banking are investigational fertility preservation methods requiring participation in research protocols that will soon be available at Duke. Research protocols for testicular tissue banking and ovarian suppression are available at other centers.
Egg banking*
Considerations: Ovarian stimulation prior to egg retrieval can be tailored to patient’s diagnosis and timeline.
Considerations: Outpatient laparoscopy required. Future use by ovarian graft or in vitro maturation of eggs from thawed tissue is being studied.
Considerations: Future use by testicular graft into patient or animal being studied.
Considerations: Conflicting results in small studies to date.
