Improvements made in fertility preservation and funding

In December 2010, the Fertile Future announced a financial assistance program for male and female cancer patients who want to freeze their eggs or sperm before undergoing treatment.

The Power of Hope Cost Reduction Program will offer assistance to qualifying patients on three different grant levels which will result in a substantial financial relief for the individual.

They say, "Female cancer patients who qualified for the Power of Hope program receive compassionate pharmaceutical products, substantially reduced clinic fees of at least 33 per cent for egg and embryo retrieval and cryo-preservation, and cost re-imbursement of up to $1000.00. Male cancer patients who qualify for the program will be entitled to sperm cryo-preservation services at no cost to them. Participating fertility centres across the country can then be reimbursed by Fertile Future for up to $350.00 for administering and facilitating this service for young men."

Participating Fertility Centres include:

• CReATe Fertility Centre, Toronto, ON
• Mount Sinai Fertility Centre, Toronto, ON
• ONE Fertility, Burlington, ON
• Ottawa Fertility Centre, Ottawa, ON
• Northern Reproductive Therapies, Newmarket, ON
• Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Vancouver, BC
• Regional Fertility & Women's Endocrine Clinic, Edmonton, AB

Fertility preservation is often not introduced to young adult cancer patients until it's too late. It's important to know your options before your chemotherapy or radiation starts, whether you think you're going to want to have children or not. It's better to store your eggs or sperm just in case than regret not doing it.