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Fertility Treatments
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In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) with your own eggs
This type of IVF involves fertilizing your eggs with your partner's sperm in a laboratory environment after you have received fertility medicine. These fertilized eggs or embryos, are then put back into your uterus. Otherwise, they are frozen and kept in the lab until you are ready to become pregnant. At that time, the frozen embryos (fertilized eggs) are thawed and then put into your uterus where one of the eggs has the potential of developing into a baby.
You can only use your own eggs if they are removed and fertilized before your cancer treatment begins. Although there is not yet a reliable way to freeze an egg that has not been fertilized first, new technology may make this possible in the future.
IVF - with donor eggs
This is done by removing another woman's egg from her ovary, fertilizing it with your partner's sperm, and putting that fertilized egg into your uterus. You would then carry and give birth to the baby. This type of fertility treatment is offered to women who have POF (premature ovarian failure) and do not make eggs. Your uterus (womb) will be able to carry a baby even if you have POF, unless you were treated for a Wilm's tumor or received high doses of radiation directly to your vagina or uterus.
Gestational Carriers
If, as a result of your cancer treatment, your ovaries are still healthy but your uterus is not, it is possible to have another woman (called a gestational carrier) carry a baby that comes from one of your eggs. In this case, an egg would be removed from your ovary and fertilized by your partner's sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg would then be implanted into the gestational carrier's uterus, and she would carry the baby until birth. After the baby's birth, you would then be able to legally adopt this baby and the child would be yours both legally and genetically.
Adoption
This is another important option for young women who have POF. There are many children who need a home and are adopted by couples who can't have their own children.
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Updated 3/12/06
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