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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

This page includes answers to some questions that kids and teens and their families may have.

Questions on who this is for

Yes. You do not need to be an adult, have a partner, or be ready to have a baby to choose fertility preservation.

 

There are options for kids and teens who:

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If you are under the age of 18 and want to choose fertility preservation, your parent or guardian will need to agree with your choice. You can choose to wait and see without your parent or guardian’s agreement.

Can I choose fertility preservation even if I'm not an adult?

I haven't gone through puberty - do I have options?

Yes. Kids with ovaries may have the option of ovarian tissue freezing. Kids with testicles may have the option of testicular tissue freezing. Everyone has the option to wait and see. Talk to your doctor or nurse for more information.

Is fertility preservation only available to kids and teens at a higher risk of fertility problems?

No. All kids and teens can consider fertility preservation, whether they have a lower, medium or higher risk of fertility problems.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about which options they recommend based on your risk of fertility problems.

Questions on timing and treatment

What if I focus on getting better first and worry about my fertility later?

Some kids and teens choose to wait and see instead of fertility preservation.

 

Many doctors recommend that if you’d like to choose fertility preservation, you should try and do it before you start your treatment for cancer or a blood disease, if you can. This is because some treatments can lower your fertility and your chances of having biological children.

 

Even if you’ve had some treatment already, you may still have fertility preservation options.

Can I delay the start of my treatment for cancer or a blood disease for fertility preservation?

Most options for preserving fertility can be completed quickly without delaying the start of your treatment for cancer or a blood disease.

 

Some options, such as egg freezing, may need you to delay the start of your treatment. Many people can delay their treatment for the time it takes to do fertility preservation.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about the timing of your treatment and fertility preservation.

Can I save (bank) sperm after starting treatment?

It’s better not to. Doctors recommend that you bank sperm before starting treatment for cancer or a blood disease. The treatment may harm or lower the amount of sperm in your body.

 

Banking sperm can be done quickly.

 

You can’t bank sperm for 3-6 months after treatment.

More questions

If I’m at higher risk of fertility problems or if my periods stop during treatment, do I still need to use birth control (contraception)?

Yes. If you are having sex or thinking about having sex, you still need to use reliable birth control (contraception), such as birth control pills and condoms, because:

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  • You can release an egg and become pregnant during treatment for cancer or a blood disease, even if your period has stopped; or

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  • You can produce sperm and create a pregnancy during treatment for cancer or a blood disease; and

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  • Treatment makes it harder to have a healthy pregnancy.

Talk with your doctor or nurse about sexual activity and birth control during and after treatment for cancer or a blood disease. They can have an honest, open discussion with you.

Will my insurance cover fertility preservation?

Maybe. You or your parent or guardian can check with your insurance plan to see what it will cover.

 

Some plans may cover part or all of the options, while others may not. Often, insurance will cover things like blood tests and ultrasounds but not the procedure itself or costs for storing your eggs or sperm.

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Some states may require that insurance plans cover some or all of the costs of fertility preservation for some people. You can ask your insurance plan about requirements for fertility coverage in your state.

Visit the Alliance for Fertility Preservation to learn more about state laws.

How does fertility preservation fit in with my religious beliefs?

Some young people with cancer and their families wonder if fertility preservation  fits with their beliefs and the way they practice their religion.

 

They may also wonder about procedures that use frozen eggs, sperm or tissue in the future (such as in-vitro fertilization or IVF). IVF combines eggs and sperm in a lab before being put into the uterus (where a baby grows).

 

This is an important discussion to have with your family and people you trust.

 

You and your family’s feelings, beliefs, and practices may change over time, and that’s OK too.

Questions about the future

Does treatment for cancer or a blood disease always cause fertility problems?

No. Sometimes treatment can lower a person’s fertility or cause fertility problems, but other times treatment has little effect on fertility.

 

Your doctor or nurse can estimate your risk level of fertility problems.

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To learn more, visit the page on our website about risk and risk levels:

Does fertility preservation work?

How well an option works (called “efficacy”) means how well it can lead to the birth of a baby.

 

We don’t know a lot about how well fertility preservation works in kids and teens with cancer or a blood disease, but we will continue to learn more over time.​

 

You can talk to your doctor or nurse about how well fertility preservation may work for you, which may depend on things like:

 

  • Your age

  • Your medical history

  • Your fertility clinic (different fertility clinics can have different success rates)

  • Other factors

 

On this website, we give information on how well each option may work and how to think about it. Use the links below to learn more:

If you have ovaries:

If you have testicles:

Does fertility preservation guarantee that I'll be able to have biological children someday?

No, fertility preservation may give you a higher chance to have biological children, but none of the options are guaranteed to work.

If I have primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) due to my treatment, will I be able to carry a baby (be pregnant)?

POI is when your eggs don't work well. You may be able to carry a baby so long as you have a healthy uterus, even if your ovaries don't work well. But you may need to use your own frozen eggs or a donor egg.

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When you’re ready to have a baby, talk to your doctor or nurse about if you can carry a baby yourself. If you can’t, there are other ways to become a parent.

Visit the “Other ways to become a parent” page to learn more about donor eggs and other options:

Will fertility preservation give cancer to my future baby?

No. Fertility preservation does not give cancer to your future baby.

 

But having a diagnosis of cancer or a blood disease may make it more likely your future baby could develop cancer or a blood disease.

 

If you decide to use your frozen eggs, sperm, or tissue to have a baby in the future, doctors can test it first to see if there is a higher risk of some health conditions that you may pass on to a baby.

How long can my tissue stay frozen?

You can freeze your eggs, sperm, or tissue for as long as you would like to.

What happens to my frozen eggs, sperm, or tissue if I don’t ever use it or if I die?

If you choose a fertility preservation option (other than ovary pausing), doctors or nurses will talk with you and your parents or guardians about:

 

  • What you want to happen to your tissue if you die before you need it

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  • Your choice to have your tissue destroyed, donated to research, or maybe even give it to someone like your parents

 

You can change your mind about what you want to happen to your frozen eggs, sperm, or tissue.

Pathways for AYA homepage

Start here: What I need to know

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