Fertility Preservation for Medical Reasons

Women looking to protect and preserve their fertility have a number of different options open to them. Depending on your specific circumstances, these options may include:

• egg freezing
• embryo freezing
• ovarian tissue freezing
• taking fertility-protecting medications

We explore these options in more detail below.

Egg freezing allows a woman to store her eggs as a means of preserving her future fertility. When you’re ready to use your eggs, they are thawed and fertilised before being implanted into your uterus. This process generally takes a couple of weeks. But it can be fast-tracked for patients who need urgent medical treatment.

We’re here for whatever you need.

If you have a partner or access to donor sperm, you may wish to freeze embryos (fertilised eggs) for future use. In order to do this, you’ll need to complete an IVF treatment cycle and freeze the resulting embryos. Frozen embryos can be stored for five years, with extensions available.

The advantage of freezing embryos over unfertilised eggs is that embryos can be assessed for quality. This gives you and your fertility specialist a fuller picture of whether or not a particular embryo is likely to result in a pregnancy. Of course, there are no guarantees. But it’s useful information that may help you plan for the future.

At Monash IVF, embryo freezing can also be fast-tracked for patients who need urgent medical treatment.

Just remember, it’s important you discuss embryo freezing with your oncologist, fertility specialist and our counsellors. When embryos are created, both partners own those embryos and need to make decisions together about what happens to them. If a relationship breaks down, this could mean either or both partners lose access to the embryos.

Just something to keep in mind.

Removing ovarian tissue for freezing is a relatively new technique. At Monash IVF, we’re proud to have been involved in Australia’s first pregnancy from ovarian tissue freezing. So if you decide to pursue this path, you can rest assured you’re in expert hands.

Ovarian tissue is removed from your pelvis during a minimally-invasive surgery, and frozen for later use. When you’re ready, the tissue is grafted back into your pelvis. Ideally, it will begin producing mature eggs. You can then get pregnant through a modified IVF treatment.

We’re here to offer our patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy extra support. You want a clear path forward with minimal stress involved - we completely understand this.

Happily, there are certain medications you can take to help reduce the damage to your ovaries. Your oncologist and fertility specialist will work together to find the best option for you.

To make an urgent fertility preservation appointment, please call 1800 674 531.

If you identify as trans*, gender fluid or non-binary, we can help you preserve your fertility so you can start a family when you’re ready. It’s worth thinking about whether or not you want to have a genetically-related child in the future.

Unsure and looking for a chat? Our friendly nursing team are available if you’d like to talk through your options in more detail. Wherever you are in your journey, we’re here to help.

Options for trans women to preserve their fertility include:

• freezing sperm
• freezing testicular tissue

Options for trans men to preserve their fertility include:

• freezing eggs
• freezing ovarian tissue
• freezing embryos (if you’re in a relationship or are using donor sperm)