Oncofertility provides peace of mind
The possibility of cancer is a genuine concern for women with elevated risk factors, and preserving fertility in advance of a possible diagnosis can secure family-building plans. Park Avenue Fertility and Reproductive Medicine offers oncofertility services, which bridge oncology and reproductive medicine, in specialized cases. Our Connecticut fertility clinic, led by experienced endocrinologist Dr. Andrew Levi, helps women proactively safeguard future fertility.
Preserving fertility can ease family-building worries
The prospect of cancer can loom large for women with a family history of this disease, and may complicate family planning. Fortunately, our compassionate fertility expert Andrew Levi MD can offer oncofertility treatment to ease concerns.
Our Connecticut fertility clinic uses egg freezing as a fertility preservation method. We carefully freeze eggs in our IVF lab using liquid nitrogen. This rapid-freezing method ensures their quality, and we then securely store them on-site.
The Park Avenue Fertility team understands there are many reasons patients are concerned about cancer and fertility.
- Your family history includes cancer. For women whose medical history includes family members with cancer, preserving fertility before a possible diagnosis has advantages. Egg freezing keeps eggs at their current age, and being proactive means those eggs are not exposed to radiation or chemotherapy, which negatively affects fertility. Women who face removal of their fallopian tubes or ovaries as part of cancer treatment can still be candidates for IVF treatment if they have frozen their eggs in advance. Frozen eggs can be thawed and fertilized, and an embryo can then transferred directly into the uterus to achieve pregnancy.
- Genetic test results are concerning. Some patients talk to us about preserving fertility after genetic testing shows a greater risk for breast or ovarian cancer. A positive BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) or BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2) test result means a genetic mutation exists that increases cancer risk. While not everyone with this variant will develop cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than 60% of women who inherit a harmful change in BRCA1or BRCA2 will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and 13% to 58% will develop ovarian cancer.
- Cancer survivors are interested in fertility preservation. More women are fighting and winning the battle against cancer and see a family in their future. For cancer survivors worried about recurrence, it’s important to discuss oncofertility options. Our Connecticut fertility clinic is here to answer your questions. We will consider factors such as age, type of cancer, associated treatment, and input from your cancer care team.
Take control of fertility options by considering oncofertility when facing cancer risks
In life, there are so many unknowns, and the possibility of a cancer diagnosis and its future impact can be particularly daunting. Our Connecticut fertility clinic, led by Dr. Levi’s compassionate care, understands future fertility concerns and can discuss how preserving fertility can provide peace of mind. Contact us to learn more about oncofertility.
