Treatment Categories

Chemotherapy treatments and other conditions such as Turner's and galactosemia can threaten the future fertility of children. At IFP, we offer innovative tissue freezing procedures to all ages of male and female children.

While mature men can preserve fertility by sperm freezing, the only option in male children is testicular tissue freezing. At IFP, we offer this experimental option for children undergoing chemotherapy.

Eggs are harvested for safekeeping in advance of cancer treatments, and reimplanted in an IVF procedure when the patient's cancer is in remission. We developed innovative strategies to keep estrogen levels low during ovarian stimulation to collect eggs so that cancer recurrence is not increased.

Oocyte freezing has come a long way. Our research shows that current success rates have approached to that of standard IVF procedures. When fertility is under threat in single women and adolescents, this is a useful strategy to preserve fertility.

This technique does not require ovarian stimulation and can be performed in children and adults with short notice. IFP's experience is unmatched, as Dr Oktay performed the first procedures in the world.

  • Fertility Preservation in Children
  • Testicular Tissue Freezing
  • Breast Cancer and IVF
  • Egg Freezing
  • Ovarian Cryopreservation

Press Releases

Dr. Oktay establishes Transatlantic Reproductive Technologies Network (TARTEN)
December 30, 2010
Dr. Oktay establishes Transatlantic Reproductive Technologies Network (TARTEN) and is named the first President. He will chair the first International Meeting of Tarten in Istanbul on April 14-17 2010 which will focus on Challenges in Fertility Preservation and Assisted Reproduction. More info here

Dr. Oktay receives the STAR award from American Society of Reproductive Medicine
December 30, 2010
Dr. Oktay receives the STAR award from American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The award is given every 10 years to the selected members of the ASRM for the recognition of their contributions to the scientific society within the past decade. More info here

Press Release: Chinese team reports triggering growth of new eggs in female mice
April 14, 2009
A team of Chinese researchers reported using stem cells to trigger the growth of new eggs in sterile mice. The experiment suggests it may be possible to stimulate the growth of new eggs in women diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and menopause. Commenting at the request of U.S. media, Dr. Oktay called the study, "the most exciting breakthrough in reproductive biology in 50 years." More coverage:

Chinese study: Production of offspring from germline stem cell line derived from neonatal ovaries

New York Times: Evidence That Mice Produce Egg Cells After Birth

ScienceNOW: Recalibrating the Biological Clock?

Press Release: Oktay et al challenge breakfast cereal-baby gender connection
January 14, 2009
Dr. Oktay, Dr. S. Stanley Young and Dr. Heejung Bang are co-authors of a paper published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B that challenges the assertion that by eating breakfast cereal mothers-to-be can determine the sex of their babies.

Non-cancer patients are discovering FP, but more cancer patients need to hear about it -- especially from their doctors
November 24, 2008
Presenting at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in San Francisco, Dr. Oktay observed that non-cancer patients are discovering the opportunities that fertility preservation treatments offer them, and now represent the fastest growing segment of new FP patients. Which stands in marked contrast to an online report published the same week in the Journal of Adolescent Health that says some doctors are reluctant to discuss fertlity preservation with cancer patients.

IFP research team reports new fertility preservation procedure to benefit breast cancer patients
June 3, 2008
An Institute for Fertility Preservation research team led by founder Dr. Kutluk Oktay announces the early success of an innovative method known as COST-LESS that will enable breast cancer patients to produce, harvest and cryopreserve their own eggs before undergoing potentially harmful chemotherapy.

Dr. Oktay's work funded by an NIH grant may lead to noninvasive medical treatments to preserve fertility
April 8, 2008

Kutluk Oktay, M.D. to Share the Society of Gynecoligc Investigations Prestigious President's Award
March 4, 2008

Dr. Oktay to Present to Breast Cancer Symposium, April 5
(View Event Brochure)
February 8, 2008

Kutluk Oktay, M.D. Awarded the Champions of Hope Award
November 20, 2006