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Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) Offers Hope to Female Cancer Patients Through Cutting Edge Fertility Preservation Techniques

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 September 2007, 12:00 CDT

Until recently, there has not been a lot of known fertility preservation options for patients preparing to undergo cancer treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy or other surgeries known to hinder reproductive potential; an added struggle for the 130,000 people in the US each year that are diagnosed with cancer in their prime reproductive years.

In an effort to expand the options for women at risk of losing their reproductive function due to these treatments, Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) has been selected as one of the first practices in Chicago to launch an ongoing study to evaluate the efficiency of a rapid egg freezing technique called oocyte vitrification. This advanced technique allows women to "fast freeze" their eggs so that they can be thawed and fertilized at a later date, resulting in much improved pregnancy rates over older freezing techniques.

With the month of October dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, FCI hopes to educate women on the latest techniques that are available to them. Dr Angeline Beltsos, M.D and Reproductive Endocrinologist with the Fertility Centers of Illinois says that it's crucial for women to be made aware of these options before cancer treatments begin. "With breast cancer being the leading cause of cancer among American women, there has never been a more important time to educate them on these advancing fertility preservation options," she says.

Susie Arhangelos, a breast cancer patient that took part in the FCI vitrification program prior to her cancer treatments says that she hopes more women in her situation consider these options. "For me, dealing with cancer was traumatic enough; I couldn't also deal with the possibility of becoming infertile. Through a difficult time, this program has given me the hope that I may still be able to conceive a child," she says.

According to Fertile Hope, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients presented with the risk of infertility, this study sheds a ray of hope for the many women who want to preserve their option of having biological children. "This is an important study that will help expand the option of egg freezing for so many women faced with the double blow of cancer and potential infertility," says Joyce Reinecke, Program Director Fertile Hope.

FCI is recognized for their superior success rates and lab excellence in developing and testing innovative fertility technologies. Further trial of these new preservation techniques continues to advance vitrification to a higher scientific level and give new hope to women faced with infertility.

ABOUT FERTILITY CENTERS OF ILLINOIS

Fertility Centers of Illinois, S.C., is one of the nation's leading infertility treatment practices, providing advanced reproductive endocrinology services in the Chicago area for over 25 years. FCI has more babies born than the next ten centers combined with high success rates that are recognized throughout the nation. In addition to a team of nationally recognized reproductive physicians who stay current on the latest technology and procedures, FCI patients have access to many other unique support services, such as professional counseling from a licensed, Ph.D. clinical psychologist, patient advocates and innovative financial options. FCI is part of IntegraMed, the nation's largest and most reputable network of fertility centers and has multiple offices conveniently located throughout the Chicago area. For more information visit www.fcionline.com

VITRIFICATION BACKGROUNDER

Vitrification is the process of cryopreservation (freezing) of human eggs using high concentrations of cryprotectorant with rapid freezing, to solidify the cell into a glass-like state without the formation of ice crystals (Ice crystals within an egg can cause damage). Until recently, survival rates for thawed eggs, as well as pregnancy rates using these thawed eggs have been relatively low. The team at FCI has used vitrification for the cryopreservation of embryos (a rapid freezing technique to help achieve higher embryo survival) for over three years. Initial reports show that this same technology will also allow the freezing of eggs for thawing and later fertilization, resulting in much-improved pregnancy rates over older freezing techniques.

Source: Business Wire

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