What is fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation is the storage of eggs or sperm before you start any medical treatment that could harm your natural fertility. These eggs and sperm can be used in the future if your natural fertility is affected by your medical treatment.
In some circumstances your doctor might refer you for testicular or ovarian tissue storage rather than egg or sperm storage.
How do I arrange fertility preservation?
Your nurse or doctor will refer you to the fertility clinic.
How long does fertility preservation take?
Once you are referred the fertility clinic team will try to see you within a few days, particularly if you need to start any urgent medical treatment.
Sperm storage can often be done at the first visit as we can store a sperm sample immediately after it is produced. Sometimes a repeat visit is needed for another sample.
Egg storage takes longer as it requires stimulating the ovaries for approximately 10-14 days leading up to an egg retrieval procedure.
Your medical team will discuss with you if there is any risk in delaying your medical treatment while you organise fertility preservation.
Will I have eggs or sperm to store?
Not everyone is successful with fertility preservation.
Occasionally we do not find any sperm in a semen sample so have nothing to store. We will let you know if this affects you.
Not all ovaries will respond well to ovarian stimulation, and some may not respond at all. This is a greater risk if you are aged 38 and over. The fertility clinic team will explain your chances of having eggs to store.
Do I have to pay for fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation is usually funded by the NHS if you must undergo urgent medical treatment that is known to affect your fertility.
However, funding for future fertility treatment is not guaranteed as this will depend on your circumstances at the time you present for fertility treatment and the rules governing fertility treatment funding at that time.
The fertility clinic team will discuss funding with you.
What happens to my eggs or sperm if I die?
If you proceed with fertility preservation you will be asked to complete consent forms that allow you to store your eggs or sperm. These consents forms will also ask you to state your wishes if you become mentally incapacitated or die while you have eggs or sperm in storage.
If you have a partner you can consent to allow your partner to make the decision to use your eggs or sperm to create a pregnancy if you are mentally incapacitated or after you die.
Your partner can only use your eggs or sperm to create a pregnancy after you become mentally incapacitated or die if you have signed the appropriate consent forms and named your partner on the consent forms.
What happens once my medical treatment is completed?
If you have eggs or sperm stored and would like to discuss the storage or use of these, you can ask your medical team or GP to refer you to the fertility clinic for a consultation. You can also be referred even if you were not successful with fertility preservation but would like some advice about your fertility.
What are my other options?
Unfortunately, not everyone will have eggs or sperm to freeze or time to consider fertility preservation before they start their medical treatment. If this happens to you, please ask your hospital doctor or GP to refer you to the fertility clinic team so we can offer you advice about alternative options.
This might include different ways to create a family such as donor eggs or donor sperm.
Where can I find out more?
The following websites offer advice and guidance about fertility and fertility preservation.
www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/fertility/preservation
www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/fertility-preservation/
www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/treatment/chemotherapy/fertility/women/ways-to-keep-fertility
