Fertility preservation is the process of freezing and storing reproductive cells (eggs, sperm, or embryos) to protect future fertility in case of medical, personal, or environmental factors that may impact a person’s ability to conceive naturally. This process is commonly used by individuals who are facing treatments that could affect fertility, such as chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, as well as by those who wish to delay childbearing for personal or career reasons.

For women, fertility preservation typically involves egg freezing, where eggs are harvested and frozen before undergoing fertility-threatening treatments or later in life when they want to delay pregnancy. Men can preserve fertility through sperm banking, where sperm is collected and frozen. Couples may also choose to freeze embryos, created through in vitro fertilization (IVF), as a way to ensure fertility if they decide to delay or face medical challenges.

Fertility preservation provides the opportunity to have biological children in the future, even if natural fertility is compromised due to age or medical treatments. However, the success of future pregnancies depends on the age and quality of the preserved cells at the time of collection.