FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Now cancer patients do not have to sacrifice their fertility to save their lives," says Dr. Steve Lincoln, a reproductive endocrinologist and director of the new Fertility Preservation Center for Cancer Patients at the Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF), Fairfax, VA.  Chemotherapy and radiation can have devastating effects on fertility for the 140,000 American men and women under age 45 who are diagnosed with cancer each year, but thanks to advances in cryopreservation (freezing) techniques newly diagnosed cancer patients can preserve sperm, eggs or embryos prior to having chemotherapy or radiation that will impair their subsequent fertility. Consultation with a fertility preservation expert soon after diagnosis is critical.

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"Nearly four out of five cancer patients beat their illness to live long, productive lives and many want to have families when they recover," Dr. Lincoln said.  "We are dedicated to providing comprehensive state-of-the-art fertility treatment options for newly diagnosed cancer patients.  We will provide rapid access to patients and oncologists alike to review and discuss all aspects of reproductive health and future fertility options," he added. 

A breast cancer survivor who is now pregnant says, "I was diagnosed with cancer at 35. We wanted to have children when I recovered, but none of the oncologists suggested preserving eggs or embryos."

"Working with Dr. Lincoln, I had an IVF cycle in the three weeks between my cancer surgery and beginning chemotherapy.  We froze the resulting embryos.  Having those embryos allowed me to focus on my treatment.  I now have an ongoing pregnancy."

A patient whose husband had Hodgkin's disease wrote: "One of the oncologists we saw suggested that we store my husband's sperm. That was a blessing. Our children were conceived [here] with his stored sperm. I am so grateful that we were told about this service at that time."

GIVF is uniquely qualified to provide fertility preservation options for cancer patients.  A world leader in sperm cryopreservation for decades, GIVF was the first clinic in the Washington, D.C. area to provide elective oocyte (egg) cryopreservation in the egg donor population and elective oocyte preservation in non-cancer patients. It also has been a national leader in embryo cryopreservation and successful frozen cycle transfers.

For more information about preserving fertility, visit http://www.givf.com/fertilitypreservationcenter/.

SOURCE Fertility Preservation Center for Cancer Patients at the Genetics & IVF Institute

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