Fertility preservation procedures vary widely. As you consider your options, it’s helpful to know what to expect with each procedure.
Egg and embryo freezing
Egg removal is performed while you’re under sedation — a type of anesthesia where you are lightly asleep. Your provider:
- Guides a needle through your vagina into your ovary using ultrasound guidance.
- Draws up the eggs through the needle.
- Collects the eggs and either freezes them directly or fertilizes them before freezing.
You shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure, but some women feel bloating or discomfort during the days leading up to the procedure and for several days after it.
Ovarian tissue freezing
You’ll receive a general anesthetic to put you to sleep. During this minimally invasive procedure (laparoscopy), your surgeon:
- Makes two to four small incisions on your abdomen.
- Inserts a thin scope to look inside your abdomen.
- Uses small instruments to collect the tissue.
- Removes the instruments and scope and closes the incisions.
Usually, you can go home about two hours after laparoscopic surgery with specific instructions for follow-up care.
Ovarian transposition
This is also a laparoscopic procedure performed under general anesthesia.
If your fallopian tubes aren’t damaged by surgery or radiation treatment, your ovaries may release eggs in their new location, allowing you to become pregnant naturally. Whether the surgeon is able to move your ovaries without damaging the fallopian tubes depends on your condition, the radiation field planned, and your anatomy. If both of your fallopian tubes are damaged, you may require in vitro fertilization (IVF) to become pregnant.
Radiation shielding
Your provider will try to protect your ovaries or testicles from radiation by using:
- Precise radiation technologies such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Radiation therapy is usually quick and painless, but it may cause side effects such as hair loss, diarrhea and fatigue.
- Shielding devices are made of lead that absorbs radiation. Ovary shields are plate-like devices, while testicle shields are round cups that surround the testicles.
Sperm freezing
This is a noninvasive procedure where you masturbate and ejaculate semen into a cup. You give the cup to your provider for freezing and storage.
If you’re unable to produce a specimen due to illness, anxiety, pain or cultural or religious reasons, your provider can help using:
- Medication: These include several types of drugs that can help you ejaculate or correct problems preventing ejaculation.
- Vibratory stimulation: Vibration can help trigger ejaculation.
- Electroejaculation: Your provider guides a probe into your rectum. The probe stimulates your prostate with a mild electrical current that causes you to ejaculate. This is done under anesthesia.
Testicular tissue freezing
Your surgeon will collect a testicular tissue. Collection may involve the use of a scalpel to remove the tissue or a needle to draw up the sample.
What happens to the frozen embryos, eggs and sperm?
When you’re ready to pursue pregnancy, your fertility team thaws the frozen specimen. Your provider:
- Completes the fertilization process with your thawed eggs or sperm to create embryos.
- Implants the newly fertilized or thawed embryos into your uterus or someone else’s who will carry your baby for you (surrogate).