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Considering the Future

Fertility Counseling & Gamete Cryopreservation Program

Gamete is the technical term for sperm and egg cells. Gamete cryopreservation is the technical name for sperm and egg cell banking. It entails the cooling, freezing and storage of sperm and eggs at very low temperatures for a prolonged period of time. Patients may choose to bank gametes if there is a possibility of losing fertility. This may be an important option for those who have not established a family or whose family is not yet complete.

Infertility is a distressing side effect of many cancer treatments. The opportunity to cryopreserve, or freeze sperm or egg cells, before beginning cancer therapy offers patients diagnosed with cancer the chance to parent a biologic child in the future. Too often, this services is not considered until the patient is well into cancer treatment and by then, it may be too late. The U-M Cancer Center has partnered with the U-M Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the U-M Assisted Reproductive Technologies Laboratory to offer the Fertility Counseling and Gamete Cryopreservation Program (FCGCP). The FCGCP provides counseling and education to patients newly-diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment at U-M.

The FCGCP aims to address the male patient's information needs regarding sperm collection procedures, custody, legal and financial issues. The staff assists the patient through the entire process efficiently, allowing for minimal delays in cancer treatment.

Female patients will be counseled regarding ovarian stimulation, egg harvesting, freezing and storage of eggs. Egg (oocyte) cryopreservation is a novel approach to preserving fertility and is offered at only a few centers in the world. Egg cryopreservation requires ovarian horomone stimulation administered over several weeks. Women considering this ooption should first discuss it with their primary oncologist.

A U-M physician referral is required for services. Your oncologist or cancer surgeon can initiate a referral to the program during or prior to your initial visit to the cancer center.

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center