New Fertility Advancements for Cancer Patients
Persons about to undergo cancer treatments are often faced with difficult choices, one of which being their fertility. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, take a harsh toll on the body and can often limit a person's reproductive ability. However, a new breakthrough may give hope to those dealing with cancer. A new study has shown hopeful prospects in being able to grow an unfertilized egg outside the body for preservation.
"By being able to take an immature ovarian follicle and grow it to produce a good quality egg, we're closer to that holy grail, which is to get an egg directly from ovarian tissue that can be fertilized for a cancer patient" stated the study director at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
The hope of the study is to find a way to freeze unfertilized eggs from cancer patients to then thaw and fertilize at a later date. Today, freezing of fertilized embryos has the highest success rate. However, not all women know who they would like to have as their sperm partner prior to undergoing cancer treatment. This study is still in the early stages and they have yet to be able to mature the egg to a point where it could be fertilized, but they are getting closer
Posted by Tala on 7/15/2009 6:50:01 PM
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