Fertility preservation programme for cancer patients
We offer the possibility of vitrifying eggs to patients who must undergo treatment that may affect their fertility and do not wish to give up motherhood in the future
Free egg and/or ovarian tissue preservation programme
Thirty per cent of cancers affect women of childbearing age. Chemotherapy treatments prevent these women from trying to become mothers until five years after completing treatment.
During these five years, patients live with the anxiety of not knowing whether the treatment will have left them infertile.
As part of its social medical assistance activities, the Dexeus Mujer Foundation, through the professionals at Dexeus Mujer, is running a free egg and/or ovarian tissue preservation programme for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in order to preserve their future fertility.
What it consists of
The Dexeus Mujer Fertility Preservation Unit offers the possibility of freezing eggs and ovarian tissue free of charge to all those affected of childbearing age, so that they can use them after overcoming the disease and become mothers, if they wish, as chemotherapy treatment can cause infertility.
Subsequent freezing for 5 years is also offered free of charge.
Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer have significantly increased the life expectancy of patients, which in many cases will allow them to resume their reproductive plans once they have overcome the disease.
One of the main side effects of cancer treatments (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) or immunosuppressants, which are necessary to treat cancer or certain autoimmune diseases, is infertility. In young women, it can cause premature ovarian failure or cessation of ovarian function, and in men, it can cause alterations in sperm production.
The damage caused by this therapy depends on several factors: age, previous fertility, type of pathology and drugs used. For this reason, in these cases and whenever possible, it is advisable to resort to fertility preservation before starting cancer treatment.
The free fertility preservation programme offered by Dexeus Mujer to its cancer patients began in 2009 and is part of the social medical assistance activities carried out by the Dexeus Mujer Foundation. The procedure allows eggs or ovarian tissue to be obtained for freezing and must always be performed before the patient undergoes cancer surgery or begins chemotherapy treatment.
Patient profile
To date, more than 160 treatments have been performed on cancer patients, who currently represent approximately 10% of all preservation treatments performed, as the number of preservations for social reasons has increased in recent years.
The average age of cancer patients undergoing this treatment is 34, compared to an average of 36.5 for those who resort to this treatment for social reasons.
The cost of preservation treatment is around €3,000, with the Dexeus Mujer Foundation and Dexeus University Hospital covering all related expenses.
Relevant data
Social action programmes
Collaborate
If you would like to make a donation to cover the cost of these patients’ procedures, you can make your contribution via the platform www.migranodearena.org