Oncofertility Preservation

Oncofertility Program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans

About our program

The Oncofertility Program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans is dedicated to helping all patients within our Cancer and Blood Disorder program embrace the possibility of starting families of their own. Given the cutting-edge advancements in pediatric cancer treatments leading to improved survivorship, it is essential to address the fertility concerns that can arise from these treatments and their potential effects on your child’s reproductive well-being. Fertility preservation is a key part of our comprehensive care approach, ensuring your child’s ability to start a family is considered and supported throughout their treatment journey.

What makes us different?

Our commitment to patient care goes beyond just treating the sickness; we are dedicated to helping our young patients live thriving lives as they become adults. We know how crucial it is for them to have the chance to start their own families in the future and that is something we prioritize through our program.

What makes our Oncofertility Program stand out is our team of experts who are leaders in the field. They have access to the latest cutting-edge technology, ensuring that we provide the most effective solutions. As one of the most comprehensive programs in the country, our clinical staff is experienced in working with children and families impacted by cancer, offering both medical expertise and emotional support.

Above all, our top priority is delivering the safest and highest quality of care to your child.

Services we offer

The Oncofertility Program at Children’s Hospital evaluates patients with cancer and other medical conditions that might impact their future fertility. The range of fertility preservation options hinges on several crucial factors such as your child’s age, their medical diagnosis, and the proposed treatment plan.

Our multi-disciplinary team includes pediatric experts in reproductive endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology, urology, oncology, and nursing. We are dedicated to providing you and your child with comprehensive support and information, including:

An overview of the available choices for preserving fertility
Guidance in selecting the most suitable option for fertility preservation before treatment
Insight into how the prescribed treatment may impact fertility

Children who are about to begin or have already undergone treatments that affect fertility, development and hormonal health can benefit from fertility preservation. Treatments that can affect fertility include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, bone marrow transplants, and certain surgeries. We offer consultations at various locations and offer telehealth appointments as needed to provide convenient access for our patients. To schedule an appointment, patients must receive a referral from their clinic provider.

Fertility preservation options

We understand that facing medical challenges such as cancer and other illnesses can be daunting, especially when considering the potential impact on fertility. Our Oncofertility Program provides comprehensive support to boys and girls who find themselves navigating these complex paths.

We have a range of cutting-edge fertility preservation options tailored to each individual’s unique circumstances. Your child’s fertility preservation plan might include:

For females:

Egg cryopreservation: This is a minimally invasive medical procedure in which a female’s eggs (oocytes) are extracted, frozen, and stored for future use. These eggs can be used at a later time to achieve a pregnancy. Egg freezing is available for females who have already entered puberty.
Ovarian transposition (oophoropexy): In this procedure,the ovaries are moved away from the radiation field to reduce the impact. By moving the ovaries out of the path of radiation, their function and hormonal production can potentially be preserved, reducing the risk of infertility.Top of Form

For males:

Sperm cryopreservation: Also known as sperm freezing or sperm banking, cryopreservation is the process of collecting, freezing, and storing sperm. The sperm is preserved for future use in fertilization. This option is considered the most effective method of male fertility preservation.
Testicular transposition: Our pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists will move the testicles out of the radiation field to minimize the potential impact. By moving the testicles out of the path of radiation, their function and hormonal production can potentially be preserved, reducing the risk of infertility.

Research

Our program participates in research to advance the field of fertility and hormone preservation and restoration to provide future options for our patients. Current studies include:

A study funded by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology to improve oncofertility care and referrals for adolescents and young adults in an underserved minority NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) setting. While these patients have high cancer survival rates, their treatments often result in fertility issues. The research aims to implement a risk stratification system that assesses factors like gender and treatment exposure, provides consistent and accurate information to health care providers and patients, ultimately improving decision making among minorities regarding fertility preservation and exploring its impact on increased referrals for fertility preservation.
Members of The Oncofertility Consortium, a nationwide, interdisciplinary and interprofessional network of medical specialists and scholars who are exploring the relationships between health, disease, survivorship and fertility preservation in young patients and adolescents with cancer.