Oncofertility: Gonadal Protection and Fertility-sparing Strategies

This four-document series was created to facilitate improved education and communication for fertility preservation in adolescent and young adult Canadians with a new diagnosis of cancer. The present review outlines gonadal protection options and fertility-sparing strategies for the young cancer patient. Cryopreservation and later use of gamete and gonadal tissue will be addressed in a subsequent article. Several strategies aimed at the preservation of male and female fertility have been developed. They have been categorized into several distinct areas. Initially, an attempt should, whenever possible, be made to preserve the functional capacity of the gonads. This attempt may include gonadal protection or fertility-sparing approaches using both medical and surgical strategies.