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Guest Services
24/7
We are available to assist you
whenever you need it. Give us a call at
650-498-3333 or
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Have a question? We're here to help! Call 1-866-742-4811
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
REFER A PATIENT
Fax 650-320-9443
Track your patients' progress and communicate with Stanford providers conveniently and securely.
Preserving Fertility: Improved Options for Cancer Patients
Infertility is a real, unfortunate side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. Many people don't realize there are ways to preserve future fertility. Stanford offers a unique, comprehensive, coordinated program for women and men to freeze oocytes (eggs), embryos, ovarian tissue, and sperm. You will receive world-class, high quality, compassionate, and personable care from the pioneers and leaders in reproductive medicine. Our oocyte cryopreservation program launched in 1999 and was the first of its kind.
Our Doctors
- Lynn Marie Westphal, M.D. , Obstetrician/Gynecologist , Reproductive Endocrinologist
- Michael Eisenberg , Urologist , Urologist
Improved Fertility Options for Cancer Patients
Female fertility and cancer
Women are born with a finited number of eggs. As they age, the supply diminishes until there are no more viable eggs and menopause begins. Standard cancer treatments—including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery—damage or destroy eggs, essentially inducing early menopause in many women.
Women faced with cancer need to make decisions quickly about ways to potentially preserve their fertility. Fortunately, they have more choices than ever before, from new freezing methods for eggs to fertility-sparing surgeries.
Fertility preservation options for women include:
Cryopreservation of embryos
Freezing embryos is the most widely available and established way of preserving fertility before cancer treatment. The process involves retrieving eggs from the ovaries during an outpatient procedure, fertilizing them in the laboratory with sperm from a partner or donor, and freezing them for later use. A woman will undergo a 2 week regimen of hormone shots to develop multiple eggs before her therapy. In younger women, a dozen or more eggs may be collected.
The first successful pregnancy from a frozen human embryo was
reported in 1983, and the technology has resulted in hundreds of
thousands of babies.
Learn more about fertility preservation, treatments and services at Stanford Children's Fertility and Reproductive Health
Cryopreservation of oocytes
In 1998, Stanford became one of the first medical centers in the country to offer egg freezing under an approved research protocol. In this procedure, mature eggs are removed from the ovaries and frozen without being fertilized. The eggs are frozen using the vitrification (quick freeze) technique and stored in a liquid nitrogen tank. They can later be thawed and fertilized in a lab.
Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue
In this procedure, a portion of the ovary is preserved and saved for
future reimplantation (ovary transplant). Preserving ovarian tissue is
still considered experimental and is performed under an IRB-approved
protocol. This is most commonly done at the same time that another
surgical procedure is being performed on the patient, such as removal
of the ovary for cancer treatment.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (embryo screening)
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be performed to determine if
an embryo is carrying a cancer genetic mutation. Screening embryos
before implantation provides the ability to prevent passing on a known
genetic disorder. Unaffected embryos can then be transferred to the
woman’s uterus.
Male fertility and cancer
Male survivors of childhood cancer have an approximately 50% reduction in successfully conceiving after treatment.
In addition to patients with cancer, other men/boys also face decisions about fertility preservation. Men/boys to undergo stem cell transplantation for hematologic disorders (e.g., thalassemia, sickle cell anemia), immunodeficiencies, severe autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, enzyme deficiencies often consider fertility preservation. In addition, men/boys at risk for testicular degeneration such as Klinefelter syndrome may also consider fertility preservation.
Male fertility preservation includes:
Sperm cryopreservation
A range of options to help patients, including cancer patients, who wish to preserve their ability to have children in the future.
For appointments with our male fertility specialists, please call the Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Program at 650-723-3391.
For Patients
Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics) is known worldwide for the advanced patient care provided by its doctors and staff. We also provide a wide range of guest services and amenities to our patients and visitors. Learn more about preparing for a hospital stay, billing and financial services, and our other support programs in Patients & Visitors.
PREPARE FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
Review the New Patient Packet for information about:
- What to expect on the day of your appointment
- Maps, directions, parking, public transit options, and contact information
- Other patient resources
MEDICAL RELEASE
Please fax the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics).
Call us to make an appointment
For Health Care Professionals
HOW TO REFER
Call us at 650-498-7911 to refer a new patient for a fertility consultation or fax your referral to 650-498-6175. If you wish to refer a patient to the Stanford Cancer Center, please call the Physician Helpline.
PHYSICIAN HELPLINE
Phone: 1-866-742-4811
Fax: 650-320-9443
Monday – Friday,
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stanford Health Care (formerly Stanford Hospital & Clinics) provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as provides the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions visit Referring Physicians.
Track your patients' progress and communicate with Stanford providers securely online.
To make an appointment, please call 650-498-7911, visit Stanford Children's Fertility and Reproductive Health, or you may contact your doctor for a referral.
