What is egg or embryo banking, aka "emergency IVF"?

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a procedure used by couples who have trouble conceiving naturally. But IVF is also available to certain women who have been newly diagnosed with cancer but who have not yet started cancer treatment. In this case, the procedure is referred to as embryo banking, or sometimes "emergency IVF," because of the shortened time frame doctors have to retrieve eggs before the person must begin cancer treatment. Embryo banking generally offers the highest chance to have a future pregnancy after potentially sterilizing cancer treatment. A good candidate for embryo banking:

• Is between 18 and 40 years of age;
• Has a source of sperm, either from a partner or from a sperm donor; and
• Is able to delay cancer treatment for a few weeks

In an IVF procedure, a woman receives hormone treatments in order to stimulate egg maturation within the ovaries. The eggs are then removed and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory to create embryos. These embryos are grown in the lab over 2-3 days, and then are transferred into the woman’s uterus. In the case of emergency IVF for cancer patients, the embryos would be cryopreserved, or frozen, for use at a later date. IVF is an established procedure that is performed around the world with very little risk. While there are very few risks associated with IVF, there is some concern that the artificially high levels of hormones used to stimulate egg maturation may also cause certain cancers to grow (for example, certain types of breast cancer). This point is controversial and some oncologists feel that the short period of time in which the hormones are increased is not important. The eggs retrieved from the ovary during IVF may also be frozen without being fertilized. A good candidate for egg freezing:

• Does not have a source of sperm (either from a partner or a sperm donor);
• Would like to delay the choice of her child's father

To learn more about egg and embryo banking (or emergency IVF), watch the animation to the right.