Innovations in Fertility Preservation

When our pediatric and adolescent patients are diagnosed with cancer or other life-altering conditions, the focus is often on treatment — not on the changes that chemotherapy, radiation and surgery may have on their bodies’ long-term functions. Innovations in oncofertility allow patients to take steps to preserve fertility both at cancer diagnosis and in survivorship.

Listen to pediatric experts discuss fertility preservation

In this episode, Leslie Appiah, MD, joins us to discuss fertility preservation for pediatric and adolescent patients.

Dr. Appiah was formerly part of the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology team and Director of the Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Appiah helped co-found the Pediatric Initiative Network of the Oncofertility Consortium, where she served as chair for five years.

This episode covers topics such as:

• Fertility preservation interventions for females and males
• Ovarian tissue freezing in patients at high risk of ovarian failure
• Pregnancy rates following egg freezing, embryo freezing and ovarian tissue freezing
• Potential of ovarian tissue for hormone replacement therapy
• Research on testicular tissue freezing
• Creation of regional centers of excellence to aid more patients in fertility preservation
• Mitigating uterine and vaginal injury during cancer treatment
• How to engage pediatric patients and parents in conversations about fertility preservation

Fertility Preservation at Children’s Colorado

The Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects Program at Children’s Colorado is designed to improve the fertility and reproductive health of patients receiving chemotherapy, radiation or surgical procedures that may impact fertility. The program encompasses fertility preservation and reproductive health for females and males being treated for cancer, as well as those in cancer survivorship.