Journal of Fertilization: In Vitro - IVF-Worldwide, Reproductive Medicine, Genetics & Stem Cell Biol
Open Access

Abstract

Fertility Preservation Options for Female Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review

Molina B Dayal

Advances in cancer detection and treatment have resulted in an increasing amount of long-term survivors who are left to deal with the adverse effects of their treatments. Fortunately, progress in fertility preservation technologies has been paralleling the trend in improving cancer outcomes. Because of the variations in type and dose of chemotherapy or radiation, the type of cancer, the time available before treatment initiation, and the patient’s age and partner status, each case is unique and requires a different strategy for fertility preservation. The field of fertility preservation is growing rapidly. It is the goal of this paper to review some of the options, their success rates, and their limitations, so physicians can provide appropriately counsel and expeditiously refer their pre-menopausal patients diagnosed with cancer to a fertility specialist.