Cancer & Fertility

Significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer as well as other chronic diseases have rendered fertility preservation of acute interest to increasing number of men and women.

In some cases the disease itself may impair future fertility while in others it is the treatment, such as chemotherapy, which may impact the ability to have children in the future. While each patient and each condition requires a highly individualized approach, a few general rules apply to many situations.

It is important to rapidly assess your current reproductive potential as well as the ability to carry a pregnancy and raise children after treatment. The value placed upon preserving a genetic link to the offspring is key to determining the available alternatives and their optimal timing.

The many available options include IVF with embryo banking, freezing of unfertilized eggs, freezing of ovarian tissue, semen freezing, ovarian suppression during chemotherapy and use of donor eggs or sperm as well as surrogacy. Psychological support and close cooperation with the doctors taking care of your primary disease are essential.

Emil

Alta Bates IVF Program provides the full range of infertility services, including IVF, ICSI, MESA, Donor Eggs, Gestational Surrogacy, IUI, Ovulation Induction and Reproductive Surgery. The program was established by Dr. Richard Chetkowski in 1984 and it operates in affiliation with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley, California. The Alta Bates IVF Program offers the best of clinical care to infertile couples, same-sex couples, single men and women in a warm, comfortable, and supportive community hospital setting. Each patient receives personalized care from a single highly experienced physician. Many of our patients have complex infertility factors or have failed treatments elsewhere, so they often benefit from the individualized care, meticulous attention to detail and the depth of clinical experience unique to our program.

Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health®, Reg. U.S. Patent. & Trademark office.