A cancer diagnosis changes everything, and fertility can feel like a secondary concern when so much else is happening. But for many people, preserving the option of biological children matters deeply, and the window to act before treatment begins can be very small.
Oncofertility is a particular focus of Dr Rozen’s clinical work and research. She completed her PhD on uterine function following radiotherapy, funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) research grant, and continues to publish in Australian and international peer-reviewed journals. She works closely with oncology teams across Melbourne to coordinate fertility preservation around treatment timelines, with sensitivity and urgency.
Cancer treatment can affect fertility in several ways. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can damage the ovaries or testes, disrupt hormonal signalling between the brain and the reproductive organs, or affect the uterus and fallopian tubes. Some surgical procedures can also impact the reproductive tract. The degree of impact depends on the type of treatment, the dose, and your age and health, which is why an individual assessment before treatment begins is so valuable.
Which option is right depends on your diagnosis, your age, and most importantly, how soon your treatment needs to begin. Dr Rozen works with your oncology team to fit fertility preservation around your treatment plan, not the other way around.
This is often the first option considered when treatment can be safely delayed by around two weeks. The ovaries are stimulated to produce multiple eggs, which are retrieved and frozen before chemotherapy or radiotherapy begins. Stimulation protocols can be started at any point in your cycle to save time, and Dr Rozen will confirm with your oncologist that the timeline is safe.
Follows the same two-week timeline as egg freezing, but the eggs are fertilised with a partner’s or donor’s sperm before freezing. For women with a partner who know they want children together, this can be worth considering before treatment begins.
The option when there is no time for stimulation, where chemotherapy must begin immediately, or for girls who have not yet reached puberty. Ovarian tissue is removed in a short surgical procedure and frozen, and can later be reimplanted to restore fertility after treatment. While still considered emerging, an Australian cohort study suggests around one in five women who had ovarian tissue frozen went on to achieve a pregnancy, though outcomes vary with age and individual circumstances.1
Uses GnRH medication to temporarily shut down ovarian function during chemotherapy, aiming to shield the ovaries from damage while treatment does its work. It is used alongside the options above rather than instead of them, and Dr Rozen can advise whether it is appropriate for your treatment type.
This should be arranged before the first dose of chemotherapy or radiotherapy wherever possible, as even one treatment cycle can affect sperm quality and DNA. The procedure itself is quick. A sample can usually be collected, processed and frozen within days of diagnosis, so it rarely delays the start of treatment. At Genea, frozen sperm has comparable success rates to fresh sperm in IUI, IVF and ICSI.
An experimental option for males who cannot produce a sperm sample before treatment begins, most often boys who have not yet reached puberty. Tissue is removed and frozen before treatment, with the aim of restoring fertility in the future.
“Helping a woman facing cancer treatment preserve her chance of having children in the future is one of the most meaningful things I do. It takes courage to think ahead in that moment, and I want every patient to know that there are options worth knowing about, even when time is short.”
– Dr Genia Rozen, Fertility Specialist, Genea Melbourne City and Frankston
