What Is Fertility Preservation?
Fertility preservation is a fairly new concept in reproductive medicine. Preserving a patient's fertility for future use is gaining widespread media attention, sparking increased public interest in its application. Originally designed for young cancer patients and those undergoing life-saving treatments that could permanently harm reproductive function (known as medical fertility preservation), fertility preservation involves safeguarding reproductive potential by storing reproductive cells or tissues for future use.
In recent years, social fertility preservation, particularly egg freezing, has surged in popularity. This approach allows women who are postponing childbirth to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs during their younger years, even if they're not yet ready to begin a family. Medically indicated and social fertility preservation are fundamentally different in both ethical and practical terms, each with unique risk-benefit considerations. It's important to address them separately, which is why Dr. Norbert Gleicher and Dr. David H. Barad create treatment plans to match the unique needs of each patient. To learn more about fertility preservation, contact the Center for Human Reproduction in New York, NY today.
When Should You Consider Fertility Preservation?
Medically Indicated Fertility Preservation
Patients facing medical conditions or undergoing life-saving treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often confront the likelihood of losing gonadal function — ovarian function in women and testicular function in men. While these treatments can be life-saving, they are toxic to reproductive cells like eggs and sperm. With advancements in cancer therapies, many young patients now overcome cancer and resume a normal life. To preserve the possibility of having biological children after recovery, patients are encouraged to pursue fertility preservation. The goal is to store reproductive cells or tissue safely away from the harm of toxic treatments, whether the patient is male or female.
The alternative to fertility preservation in these cases is permanent sterility, which prevents the possibility of having biological children, an outcome most patients find devastating. Although fertility preservation does not guarantee success and current data on outcomes is limited, it is no longer considered experimental. The ethical foundation for this shift is that even minimal success in fertility preservation is better than the certainty of life-long sterility. The appropriate method of fertility preservation depends on the patient’s condition, treatments required, and personal circumstances. Key factors to consider include the type of medical condition, the urgency of treatment, the patient’s relationship status, and future family plans. At the Center for Human Reproduction, we believe open communication and collaboration between patients, treating physicians, and reproductive endocrinologists are essential for success.
Social Fertility Preservation
In many developed countries, women are increasingly postponing childbearing to pursue higher education and career goals. As awareness grows about the natural decline in female fertility, particularly after age 35, social fertility preservation has become a popular option. By freezing eggs or embryos at a younger age, women can preserve their reproductive potential for the future, ensuring they have the option to start a family later in life when they are ready. This approach allows women to take control of their fertility despite the challenges of aging.
Most women pursuing social fertility preservation are single and, therefore, opt to freeze eggs. However, married couples are also increasingly choosing fertility preservation, often preferring to freeze embryos, as embryo freezing tends to be more predictable. Unlike medical fertility preservation, where sterility is a likely outcome without intervention, social fertility preservation doesn’t come with the same certainty of infertility. Because of this, the limited data and uncertainties surrounding egg freezing mean it is still considered experimental. On the other hand, embryo freezing has been a well-established and reliable procedure for many years.
What Are the Fertility Preservation Options at CHR?
CHR established its Fertility Preservation Center (FPC) in 2008 when fertility preservation for both medical and social reasons was still in its early stages. Today, CHR is one of the few IVF centers licensed to cryopreserve eggs and ovarian tissue. Over the years, our FPC has significantly expanded its medically indicated fertility preservation services. Drawing from the expertise of the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Haschomer in Israel — one of the world’s leading fertility preservation centers for young women undergoing cancer treatment — CHR has integrated many of the Israeli protocols into our practices for treating young cancer patients.
The social egg freezing program at CHR’s FPC has grown even more rapidly. Recently, the center introduced a four-cycle egg freezing package, providing substantial cost savings for women who require multiple cycles to accumulate an adequate number of eggs or embryos. Our FPC offers a comprehensive range of fertility preservation options for men, women, and pre-pubescent children, making it one of the most inclusive programs in the U.S.
Fertility preservation services offered by CHR’s FPC include:
- Embryo banking (freezing)
- Egg banking (freezing)
- Ovarian tissue banking (freezing)
- Sperm banking (freezing)
- Fertility preservation for children
Given the urgency often involved with medically indicated fertility preservation, especially for cancer patients, CHR’s FPC is available 24/7, every day of the year. For urgent consultations, please contact our New York, NY center immediately.
Center For Human Reproduction Reviews
The doctors and staff are all great. They will go to great lengths and fight for every chance you have!
Great Doctor
Dr. Barad has elegant solutions to medical issues and is a skilled practitioner.
We are writing this letter of gratitude for Dr Norbert Gleicher and the entire staff at Center for Human Reproduction. My wife and I are so very thankful that we listened to Dr Gleicher's advice back on October 1st,2021 during a consultation he advised us to not allow our fertilized eggs to be discarded and killed.Our two eggs were tested and declared to be irregular by another IVF lab. We kept the eggs frozen and after 4 more failed IVF cycles came to Dr Gleicher for another try. We asked Dr Gleicher if it was worth a try to have eggs transferred into my wife and he studied the data and approved of the procedure. On February 7th,2024 we had 2 frozen eggs transferred and waited for the results.Finally later in February after the 13 day wait we were advised of blood test that confirmed that we were pregnant with an xx embryo from the transfer.XX is a girl and a huge feeling warmth and happiness overwhelmed both of us. We had several ultrasounds during the 4-5 weeks following and all were very positive with strong heartbeat and great growth, Today my wife is approaching her 18th week pregnant and all is going great with the development and follow up visits. Our baby is growing by the day and we look forward to our 20 week ultrasound for further development rate. If we had not discussed and listened to Dr Gleicher back in 2021 we would never have been so far with a pregnancy. The entire staff is wonderful and Hui Na was very helpful and communicative through the entire process with my wife. Please accept our sincere thank you and heartfelt praise for the team. Our baby is due around Oct 26th,2024 and we intend to vist to say thanks in person,we will make the trip from our home in Florida. Blessings to all.
My husband & I had an initial consultation with Dr. Barad, and were blown away by the time he spent with us & care he put into our conversation & next steps. For the first time in a long time on our infertility journey, it felt like someone actually heard us & our concerns. He's already suggested some new approaches we can take towards having a healthy pregnancy, that no other doctor ever mentioned, and we've been at this for years! The peace of mind & hope he offered alone were worth it. Would highly recommend.
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Why Choose Fertility Preservation at CHR?
When it comes to safeguarding your future fertility, choosing the right center is crucial. The Center for Human Reproduction stands out as a leader in fertility preservation, offering cutting-edge techniques like egg and embryo freezing, as well as ovarian tissue banking. With a dedicated team of experts and personalized care, CHR ensures you receive the highest quality treatment in a supportive environment. Take the first step toward protecting your fertility — contact our New York, NY center today to explore your options!