Hearing the word cancer can make everything narrow to the next appointment, and future family plans may be far from your mind right now. One conversation with a fertility specialist today can keep doors open for later. We want everyone facing a new diagnosis to know that protecting future fertility is within reach and quick to start.
At MCRM Fertility, people preparing for cancer treatment that may affect fertility move to the front of our schedule. Let our team know about your diagnosis when you call, and we’ll work quickly to get your preservation underway.
Why Fertility Preservation Comes Up After a Cancer Diagnosis
Chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and some hormone therapies can affect the ovaries, the testes, and the supply of eggs or sperm. The impact depends on the kind of treatment, the dose, where in the body treatment is focused, your diagnosis, and your age.
Fertility preservation saves eggs, embryos, sperm, or ovarian tissue before treatment starts, giving you family-building options once treatment ends.
Meeting with a fertility specialist soon after a cancer diagnosis, or any diagnosis whose treatment may affect fertility, is a routine, recommended part of planning your care. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) advises discussing fertility preservation as early as possible, and that visit can happen without delaying your cancer treatment.
Your Fertility Preservation Options
Our team will plan every step of fertility preservation in consultation with your oncologist and any other cancer doctors involved in your care. According to ASRM, oncofertility care centers on four main options: egg freezing, embryo freezing, sperm freezing, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation. The right one for you will depend on your diagnosis, your treatment timeline, and your goals.
Egg Freezing
Egg freezing will start with about 10 to 12 days of self-administered hormone medication to help your ovaries develop several eggs. Your doctor will then retrieve the eggs in a short outpatient procedure, usually 15 to 30 minutes, under light sedation, and you’ll go home the same day. Your MCRM team and your oncologist will agree on a stimulation plan suited to your diagnosis.
Embryo Freezing
Embryo freezing may suit you if you’re building your family with a partner or using a sperm donor. After retrieval, your eggs will be fertilized in the lab through in vitro fertilization (IVF), and the resulting embryos will be frozen and stored in a secure facility in St. Louis. ASRM notes the full process takes about two to three weeks, so your care teams will confirm the schedule works before you begin.
Sperm Freezing
Sperm freezing is the quickest preservation option. ASRM’s fact sheet on cancer and its impact on sperm recommends banking sperm before treatment starts whenever possible.
Collecting a sample is simple, and your care team may ask for more than one to give you the most flexibility down the road. When a sample has no sperm or collection is not possible, sperm can be retrieved surgically.
Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation
With ovarian tissue cryopreservation, a surgeon removes a small portion of ovarian tissue and freezes the tissue for reimplantation later. Ovarian tissue freezing can be an option when cancer treatment cannot wait for egg retrieval.
ASRM still considers tissue freezing for children and teens experimental, though promising for future fertility. The procedure is not recommended for ovarian cancer or cancers that can spread to the ovaries, and your doctor will talk through whether ovarian tissue freezing fits your situation.
How Quickly Fertility Preservation Can Start
Fast access is part of how MCRM cares for people facing cancer. Tell our staff about your diagnosis when you call, and we’ll prioritize your scheduling so preservation can be completed before cancer treatment begins.
Your fertility and oncology teams will coordinate so preservation fits your treatment calendar. Many people can finish egg freezing in about two weeks from the first injection to retrieval, and sperm freezing can often be done even more quickly.
Your schedule may shift based on how your body responds to medication, and you may be asked to come in for monitoring on short notice. These adjustments help us aim for the best possible results for you and your future family building, and we’ll keep you informed at every step.
Insurance and Costs for Fertility Preservation in Oklahoma and Missouri
Oklahoma has good news to share. Corinne’s Law (SB 1334), in effect since January 1, 2025, requires health plans in Oklahoma to cover standard fertility preservation services for people with cancer whose treatment may cause infertility.
In Missouri, and for anyone with a self-funded employer plan, coverage depends on your specific plan. Our insurance verification team will help you understand your coverage before you start.
For costs your plan doesn’t cover, financial assistance includes payment plans through PatientFi and CapexMD.
We also strongly encourage anyone facing cancer to apply for oncofertility support programs such as ReUnite Oncofertility, Heartbeat, and Livestrong Fertility. Livestrong Fertility offers eligible applicants discounts of at least 25% on preservation services at partner clinics, plus free stimulation medication through a partnership with EMD Serono.
Questions to Ask Before Cancer Treatment Begins
A short list of questions can help you and your oncology team make decisions with confidence. You might ask:
- How could my cancer treatment affect my fertility?
- Which preservation option works with my treatment timeline?
- How soon can preservation begin?
- How will MCRM and my oncologist coordinate my care?
- How does my insurance cover fertility preservation?
- How long can my frozen eggs, embryos, or sperm stay in storage?
You’re carrying a lot right now, and protecting your future family is one thing you won’t have to figure out on your own. We’re with you every step of the way.
Reach Out to MCRM as Soon as You Can
Whether you’re planning your own care or supporting someone you love, request an appointment with our St. Louis or Tulsa team. Mention your cancer diagnosis when you reach out, and we’ll prioritize your care so you can move forward with peace of mind.