need to be completed. Insurance may not pay for these tests. The billing specialists working with the fertility preservation team will be able to provide you information regarding costs as well as check your individual insurance coverage. It is best to ask about coverage and payment rather than assuming that insurance or cost might prevent fertility preservation. Options with Mixed Results • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRHa) are hormones thought to rest the ovaries during cancer treatment. A monthly injection is given to prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs every month. More research is needed to prove if this method preserves fertility in pediatric cancer patients. • Insurance may cover the monthly injection. The billing specialists can assist you to determine if insurance will cover this treatment. n REPRODUCTIVE OPTIONS FOR SURVIVORS OF CANCER Survivors of childhood cancer who are at risk for reproductive problems may still have opportunities for having children, including • natural conception: some survivors will still have the ability to have children natu- rally, but they may go through menopause earlier because of treatment • using donated eggs or embryos • festational carrier or
surrogacy (using another female to carry and deli- ver a future child)
• using frozen eggs or embryos • adoption.
Fertile Hope, the American Society of Reproductive Med- icine (ASRM), and LiveStrong are organizations that can
provide support and informa- tion for cancer survivors who are dealing with reproductive issues. The most important thing to remember is to have early fertility testing including an early referral to doctors who specialize in fertility problems.
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