ABSTRACT
There is a growing number of options for cancer patients facing infertility and premature ovarian failure who desire to preserve fertility prior to treatment. These options vary depending on the patient’s age, the time available, the type of cancer and whether the likelihood of ovarian involvement is high. Health-care providers should have a comprehensive approach to counseling patients regarding fertility preservation procedures (Figure 3). They should also clarify with patients whether a procedure is experimental or not: with the exception of embryo cryopreservation, all of the options should currently be considered experimental. Cancer patients who may benefit from fertility preservation procedures should be referred to appropriate centers which perform the procedures under Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee-approved protocols.
