Fertility Preservation

Why is it important to think about fertility preservation when you have cancer?

• Fertility can be impaired by some cancer treatments.
• With certain types of cancer, fertility can be affected even before treatment.
• The best time to talk about fertility preservation is before cancer treatment.

How does cancer treatment affect fertility?

• Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and some surgeries can cause decreased fertility.
• Fertility problems can occur right away or months after treatment.
• Fertility problems can be temporary or permanent.
• The impact that cancer treatment may have on your fertility depends on many factors including:
  • Type and total dose of chemotherapy
  • Dose and location of radiation therapy
  • Site of surgery
  • Your fertility status before treatment.

How can your UNC team help with fertility preservation?

• The Andrology Laboratory at UNC Fertility may be able to preserve a man’s fertility with storage of semen by cryopreservation (“sperm banking”).
• Discuss the options with your cancer provider, and if you are interested, please call UNC Fertility at 919-908-0000 to make an appointment to discuss sperm banking.
• The team at UNC fertility will explain the nature of semen analysis, sperm banking, and current assisted reproductive technologies available to you.
• You will be informed of the quality of the provided specimen and the final decision to store the specimen is ultimately up to you in the future.

What are the next steps?

• If you are interested in more information, please let your cancer provider know as soon as possible.
• Please call UNC Fertility at 919-908-0000 to schedule an appointment for a ‘sperm
  cryopreservation’ and consultation with a fertility provider.
• UNC Fertility is located in Raleigh, near the airport in Briar Creek at 7290 ACC Blvd, Raleigh NC
  27617.