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Having a Baby after Cancer: How IVF and Surrogacy can come to your rescue?

Having a baby after cancer treatment is not a straight forward situation because some forms of cancer treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and different types of surgeries can negatively impact on your fertility.

Infertility, in this case, may be as a result of

• Low sperm counts or egg production
• Low production of reproduction hormones
• Physical harm to the reproductive organs which prevent conception or proper progression of pregnancy.

But there is no reason to worry as medicine has progressed at such a speed that even in this scenario it is possible to have a baby still. Some helpful options to consider are IVF and surrogacy. IVF is an option you can opt for if fertilization cannot happen naturally and surrogacy is an option when your uterus cannot carry the baby during pregnancy.

You may wonder what exactly you are signing up for when you opt for either IVF or surrogacy. Here is a detailed look at these options.

IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a popular form of assisted reproduction. It starts with the administration of medicine which stimulates the production of eggs by the ovaries. When the eggs are ready, they are harvested and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory. If the fertilization is successful, then the embryo is put in the woman to grow into a baby.

In cases when the produced eggs are not viable for fertilization, donor eggs can be used to achieve the same result. Donor eggs can be from an anonymous donor or a Donor Agency. Once fertilization occurs the embryo is put into the woman’s uterus to grow. In this case, the baby will be a genetic match to the father if the partner volunteers the sperm.

Freezing of eggs/sperms/embryos

Before starting cancer treatment an unmarried girl can opt for freezing of her eggs and a man can opt for freezing of sperms. In the case of married people embryo freezing before the start of the treatment is the best option. All these freezing programs are done after detail discussion with your cancer treating doctor.

Surrogacy is where another woman carries the baby.

Sometimes, under medical advisement, surrogacy is the best option. After cancer treatment, some women are advised that giving birth can be dangerous for them and in some instances a woman may not be able to carry a child. In both these cases, letting another woman carry the baby is advised.

How does it work?

Surrogacy involves a surrogate (the woman who will carry the baby)

Surrogacy is achieved through IVF where woman’s egg or donor egg is fertilized with husband’s sperm or donor sperm and resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus of the surrogate. As per Indian law at least one of the gametes meaning either egg or sperm should belong to the commissioning couple. Both of these options present the wishing parents an opportunity to be integral to the process from the beginning. Currently, battling cancer doesn’t necessarily mean the inability to start or grow a family. Moreover, as both science and medicine continue to grow at such a phenomenal pace, it can only mean more good news. The best thing you can do is to consult your doctor about what is best for you and keep an open mind. Good luck as you ponders this new path.

Tags: Freezing of eggs, Freezing Sperms, Having a baby after cancer, In Vitro Fertilisation