Professor Dr. Hisham Abou Taleb, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Assiut University, talks about surgeries that help to preserve fertility in young cancer patients.

Fertility preservation refers to techniques used to protect a person's ability to have biological children in the future. This may be necessary for individuals undergoing medical treatments that may harm their fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer, or for those delaying childbearing for personal or social reasons.

Here are some common options for fertility preservation:

1. **Egg freezing (egg cryopreservation):** This involves retrieving a woman’s eggs, freezing them, and storing them for future use. The eggs are later thawed, fertilized with sperm, and transferred to the uterus as embryos. This procedure is usually recommended for women who are not in a relationship, have a medical condition that may affect fertility, or are undergoing treatments that may affect fertility.

2. **Embryo cryopreservation:** In this process, eggs are extracted from the woman, fertilized with sperm (either from a partner or a donor) in a laboratory environment to create embryos, and then frozen for future use. This option is commonly used by couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) who have excess embryos that were not transferred during the primary cycle.

3. **Sperm freezing (sperm cryopreservation):** Men can preserve their fertility by providing a sperm sample, which is then frozen and stored for future use. This option is often chosen by men undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as those who plan to undergo a vasectomy or other medical procedures that may affect fertility.

4. **Ovarian tissue cryopreservation:** In this procedure, a portion of a woman’s ovarian tissue is surgically removed and frozen for future use. This option is usually recommended for women facing treatments that may damage their ovaries, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and for prepubertal girls who have not yet reached childbearing age.

5. **Gonadal protection:** This technique involves protecting the ovaries or testicles from radiation during cancer treatment to reduce damage to the reproductive organs and preserve fertility.

6. **Hormonal treatments:** Some individuals may undergo hormonal treatments to temporarily suppress ovarian function during cancer treatment, which may help protect ovarian reserve and fertility.

It is important for individuals considering fertility preservation to consult with a reproductive endocrinologist or fertility specialist to discuss the most appropriate options based on their medical history, age, and reproductive goals. These specialists can provide personalized recommendations and guidance throughout the fertility preservation process.