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t m c ยป p u l s e | m a y 2 0 1 6 21 A diagnosis that threatens fertility can be frightening for women of childbearing age, but there are options, both established and experimental, for women to try to preserve their fertility through treatment. F E M A L E F E R T I L I T Y C A N C E R Egg or Embr yo Cr yopreser vation This method involves the use of drugs to induce the ovaries to produce multiple eggs, removing those eggs from the body and either freezing the eggs immediately or fertilizing and allowing them to grow into embryos before freezing. Donor Eggs or Embr yos If the uterus is still healthy after cancer treatment, a woman can undergo in vitro fertilization using donated eggs or donated embryos. Ovarian Tissue Freezing Ovarian tissue is surgically removed and frozen. The tissue can later be transplanted back into the body once cancer treatment is over. Ovarian Suppression An experimental method that involves using an injectable medication to make the ovaries dormant during treatment. The hypothesis is that an ovary not actively cycling may be more resistant to effects from chemotherapy. W H A T A R E S O M E O P T I O N S F O R P R E S E R V I N G F E R T I L I T Y ? Chemotherapy A number of chemotherapy drugs can damage or destroy a woman's eggs, affecting future fertility. The severity depends on a variety of factors, including age, the type of drug and the dosage. R adiation Therapy The intense energy used in radiation therapy, whether from X-rays or other sources, can damage the eggs, causing difficulty conceiving or carrying a child. Surger y The surgical procedures that can be required in female reproductive cancers, such as hysterectomy or ovary or cervical removal, can result in fertility challenges or infertility. H O W D O C A N C E R T R E A T M E N T S A F F E C T F E R T I L I T Y ?