Preserving Fertility: Modern Approaches to Fertility Protection in Girls and Women
How medical advances give young patients the chance to have their own children after cancer or other treatments
Learn MoreWhy Fertility Protection is Increasingly Important
More and more girls and young women are surviving serious illnesses like cancer today - thanks to modern therapies. However, chemo or radiation treatments can permanently damage ovarian function and thus endanger future fertility. Fertility protection has therefore gained massive importance in recent years 1 .
What does fertility protection mean?
Fertility protection includes all measures that preserve the fertility of girls and women whose ovarian function is threatened by medical treatments. These include mainly:
Survival rates for young women with cancer have improved significantly over the past decades
Methods Overview: From Simple Injections to Tissue Extraction
1. GnRH Agonists: Hormones to "Put Ovaries to Sleep"
How it works: GnRH agonists (e.g. as a monthly injection) temporarily suppress hormone production. This puts the ovaries into a resting state - similar to menopause. Theoretically, they are thus less susceptible to damage from chemotherapy.
Advantages
- Quick and minimally invasive
Disadvantages
- Not all studies prove complete protection
Often recommended only in combination with other methods 1 4
2. Cryopreservation of Eggs or Embryos
Process: Hormonal stimulation of the ovaries, retrieval of eggs via follicle puncture, freezing of eggs or (after fertilization with partner sperm) embryos.
Success Rates by Age
For women under 35, the live birth rate with 10 frozen eggs is over 60% 1
Challenges: Requires at least 2 weeks lead time before cancer therapy 4
3. Cryopreservation of Ovarian Tissue
For whom? Particularly suitable for children before puberty or when there is no time for egg retrieval.
Process Timeline
Tissue Extraction
Laparoscopic removal of ovarian tissue
Cryopreservation
Freezing at -196°C
Retransplantation
Reimplantation after recovery
86+
Births documented worldwide with this method 1
Risk: Theoretically possible: retransmission of cancer cells in certain tumor types (e.g. leukemia) 4
4. Ovarian Transposition (Ovarian Repositioning)
Application: For planned radiation therapy in the pelvic area. The ovaries are surgically moved out of the radiation field.
70% success rate - ovarian function is preserved in approximately 70% of women 1
The Psychological Dimension: Not Only the Body Suffers
Emotional Impact of Unwanted Childlessness
Unwanted childlessness is a massive psychological burden. Studies show:
- Couples go through a cycle of hope and despair during fertility treatments
- Many isolate themselves socially, relationships suffer
- Sexuality becomes a "means to an end" 3
"Psychological support should be an integral part of the treatment path!"
Reported emotional states during fertility treatments
Costs and Legal Aspects: Who Pays for What?
Germany
Since 2021, health insurance companies partially cover cryopreservation of eggs. Tissue freezing is often still a self-pay service 4 .
Switzerland
Cost coverage for many methods (including storage) is regulated 4 .
Austria
Cost coverage for many methods (including storage) is regulated 4 .
Future Perspectives: What's New?
Improved Cryotechniques
More gentle freezing of tissue to improve viability after thawing.
In Vitro Maturation
Maturation of immature eggs in the laboratory could make hormonal stimulation unnecessary.
Artificial Ovaries
Research on biomaterial-based structures for retransplantation 8 .
Conclusion: Early Counseling is Crucial
Fertility protection should be integrated into therapy planning as early as possible. Doctors, oncologists and reproductive medicine specialists must work hand in hand - and not forget psychosocial care. Because today it's no longer just about survival, but also about life after the illness.
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