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

Success Stories

A beautiful daughter and now twins thanks to fertility preservation
- Heidi and Brandon

Dr. Oktay's fertility treatment not only protected my wife from dangerous hormones after breast cancer, but provided us with a beautiful daughter and now twins! We owe so much to him and his research. Other fertility centers will minimize the effects of hormones on your cancer, and they will never bring up this option because they don't offer it themselves. Take control and do the research because it's your health and your family.
- Brandon

Three children after surviving breast cancer at age 38
- Lesley, age 43

I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 38 years old. The treatments prescribed to save my life, ironically, also included the potential to damage my reproductive capacities. Before undergoing the cancer treatments, I worked with Dr. Kutluk Oktay to develop a fertility preservation plan that included harvesting and freezing my own eggs. Today, I am in recovery from the breast cancer, and I am also the mother of one with two more babies on the way. I am using my own eggs that were harvested before my cancer treatments. I have my family today because I took the time to preserve my fertility options while I had the chance.

Breast cancer survivor, and a mother
- Debbie, age 33

I was diagnosed with cancer before we got engaged. They said my cancer treatment could compromise my chance to have a family. So at my doctor's strong recommendation, I had a cryopreservation procedure before the cancer treatments. Frankly, at the time I was so focused on the cancer diagnosis that I really couldn't think about anything else. However, miraculously, I did survive the cancer, and thanks to freezing my eggs, I'm now the mother of an amazing infant, I can't believe how lucky I am.

My doctor saved my life and my future
- Brenda, age 25

When I got sick, my OB/GYN made it a point to discuss the potential impact the cancer treatments might have on my fertility. At the time I didn't have the emotional energy to worry about more than just getting myself through it. But I did agree to have some eggs cryopreserved, and now I am so very grateful. I did recover and now I am planning to use my own eggs to rebuild my life.