There are great advances in relation to protecting fertility, and situations that can accelerate this need. We talked about it with Drs. Mariel Ruibal, and Fernando Beltramone, from the OVUM center.
Can infertility be prevented?
(Dr. Beltramone): Today we not only treat infertility, but we act earlier, preventing it. We know the consequences of life-extending treatments in this regard, and we can make decisions to avoid future infertility. Fortunately, advances in oncology mean that cancer increasingly poses less risk of death, but the long-term consequences must be considered.
Dr Ruibal, is it true that the eggs are lost?
With the knowledge that women are born with a fixed and limited supply of eggs, comes the first warning. But not the only one, since these are lost from our intrauterine stage without interruption throughout life.
Can we do something about it?
Indeed, fertility preservation, a recently emerging discipline, with its different alternatives comes to collaborate to be able to face the situation.
Who are the vulnerable groups regarding fertility and the future?
Cancer patients who must undergo treatments for their pathology (chemo and radiotherapy) are the most vulnerable group to have their future fertility at risk and this is related to the damage that these treatments exert on the cells that give rise to gametes (eggs and sperm) and on the gametes themselves.
We already know about the passage of time, and its effects on female fertility; but these situations involve exponentially greater damage.
Are there OTHER groups of people who may have their future fertility at risk?
Definitely; and it is to those groups that we are going to refer:
- People with certain genetic conditions such as Turner or Klinefelter syndrome, galactosemia, fragile X syndrome.
- Women with benign or borderline ovarian tumors (due to its recurrence or bilaterality)
- Women with endometriosis, frequent and insidious pathology, which by itself or by its eventual surgical treatments compromises fertility.
- People with autoimmune diseasessuch as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, whose medical treatment acts on germ cells in a similar way to chemotherapy.
- Transgender people, since sexual reassignment surgeries, as well as hormone treatments, leave severe and permanent consequences on the genital organs.
What do you recommend as a team?
Given the knowledge of the existence of any of the conditions mentioned above and BEFORE to begin medical and/or surgical treatments consult the fertility team can be a great CHANCE to learn about the different alternatives to preserve fertility that we currently have, both cryopreservation of oocytes, semen, or ovarian cortex.
Both boys and girls, adolescents and adults can greatly benefit from adequate and timely advice that allows the possibility of realizing the family projects desired for the future.
Mariel Ruibal. Specialist in Tocogynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Fernando Beltramone. Specialist in Tocogynecology and Reproductive Medicine.
IG: Ovum.arg / dr.beltramone
by CEDOC