Treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation may lead
to irreversible reproductive failure in some patients. The oncology
or hematology specialist can usually offer guidance on the probability
that a specific treatment protocol will result in infertility.
The patient may then elect sperm or egg cryopreservation to
help retain the possibility of pregnancy at some future date.
Cryobanking can cause a delay in the start of the cancer therapy
of 1-7 days for men and 14-45 days for women. The cancer specialist
can help determine whether such a delay is compatible with the
treatment strategy.
