On July 22, our founder, Dr. Gerardo Barroso, spoke at the conference “Preserving Motherhood in Patients With Cancer,” held at ABC Cancer Center.
The conference focused on the relationship between fertility and cancer, and a new branch where both of these specialties converge, known as oncofertility as well as a decision that may be made before cancer treatment begins. When a woman needs chemotherapy or radiation therapy, she may also need information about how these treatments could affect her ovarian reserve and which options may be available to preserve her fertility.
Oncofertility: Bringing Cancer Care and Fertility Preservation Together
Oncofertility connects two medical specialties. Oncology focuses on treating cancer, while reproductive medicine focuses on fertility and, in this context, the options available to preserve it.
When both specialties work together, a woman can learn about her fertility preservation options before certain treatments have a reproductive impact.
One point deserves particular emphasis. Discussing fertility does not make cancer treatment any less urgent. What changes is when the conversation takes place. Instead of postponing it until after treatment, fertility can be considered from the time of diagnosis, whenever the patient’s clinical situation allows.
This matters because chemotherapy and radiation therapy can affect ovarian reserve, which refers to the pool of eggs remaining in the ovaries. The impact is not the same for every woman or every treatment. It depends on several factors, including the type of therapy prescribed, the patient’s age, and her ovarian reserve before treatment.
How Vitrification Changed Fertility Preservation
At Nascere, we use vitrification to preserve eggs and embryos. The distinction between these two options is straightforward but important.
Eggs are stored before fertilization. Embryos are first created through in vitro fertilization and then vitrified.
This raises an important question. How can preserved eggs or embryos be used in the future?
When eggs have been preserved, IVF will later be required to fertilize them and create embryos. When embryos have been preserved, the medical team may consider tests such as PGT-A, when appropriate. PGT-A can help identify embryos with an abnormal number of chromosomes, findings that may be associated with a lower chance of implantation or a higher risk of pregnancy loss.
The medical team can use this information to help prioritize embryos with the expected chromosome number for transfer.
Before Vitrification, Each Case Must Be Assessed Individually
Fertility preservation doesn’t begin with egg freezing itself. It isn’t a step to take without first understanding the patient’s circumstances. It begins with questions such as:
- What cancer treatment has been recommended?
- How soon does it need to begin?
- How does her ovarian reserve factor into the decision?
- Is it more appropriate to preserve eggs or create embryos through IVF?
These answers help support a clinically informed decision.
During his presentation at the ABC Cancer Center, Dr. Barroso emphasized this decision-making process. The first steps are understanding the diagnosis, assessing reproductive health, and reviewing which fertility preservation option may be appropriate. From there, the process differs depending on whether the patient chooses to preserve eggs or embryos.
Egg Preservation Process
- Hormonal stimulation is used to support the development and maturation of multiple eggs.
- Follicle development is monitored through ultrasound examinations and hormone testing.
- Once the eggs are ready, they are collected through an egg retrieval procedure.
- Mature eggs are vitrified and stored for possible future use in IVF.
Embryo Preservation Process
- The same hormonal stimulation and follicle monitoring process is performed.
- The eggs are collected through an egg retrieval procedure.
- They are then fertilized in the laboratory through IVF.
- Embryos that continue to develop may undergo PGT to assess their suitability for transfer.
- Embryos selected for possible future transfer are vitrified and stored.
The entire process is coordinated with the oncology team to respect the timing of the recommended cancer treatment while addressing the patient’s health and fertility in parallel.
A Conversation That Can Drive Change
Dr. Gerardo Barroso’s participation in events like this goes beyond sharing clinical experience. It also helps ensure that fertility has a place in conversations about women’s health, particularly at times when access to clear information can expand the options patients can consider.
Bringing these topics into medical settings strengthens collaboration across specialties, gives healthcare professionals access to new developments and supports a model of care that considers both the recommended cancer treatment and the patient’s reproductive goals.
For Nascere, taking part in these conversations means contributing to care that is better informed, better coordinated and more attentive to the different dimensions of women’s health.