About Us

Welcome to CU Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects Program

The University of Colorado (CU) Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Late Effects Program services are part of the comprehensive care we provide while you receive chemotherapy and radiation therapies to treat cancers and other life-altering medical conditions. Fertility preservation is the process of protecting your ability to have children in the future by cryopreserving (freezing) sperm, eggs, embryos, or ovarian and testicular tissue prior to receiving life-saving treatments that have the potential to harm fertility. Survivors who have completed cancer therapy and are unable to conceive may become parents using third-party reproductive options like surrogacy or egg and sperm donation.

Reproductive late effects are adverse gynecologic and urologic consequences of therapy that alter quality of life in survivorship. Early diagnosis and treatment of these conditions prevents long-term complications and improves intimacy and an overall sense of well-being. Our team is comprised of oncologists, gynecologists, urologists, psychologists, sexual medicine experts, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialists who work together to optimize your future fertility and reproductive health.

Cancer and Fertility

More than 220,000 children, adolescents, and young adults, ages 0-39, are diagnosed with cancer each year. Lifesaving cancer treatments may leave patients with compromised reproductive health, adversely impacting their ability to bear biological children in the future. Infertility risk factors depend on the patient’s age, gender, and treatment type and duration. Radiation and certain types of chemotherapy can severely damage reproductive organs. Injury to reproductive organs may negatively impact bone health, sexual function, cardiovascular health and more, since those organs are responsible for producing important hormones.

Non-Cancerous Conditions and Fertility

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy are highly effective in treating other life-altering medical conditions such as anemia from genetic causes and autoimmune conditions. Some of these conditions include:

• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Thalassemia
• Systemic Sclerosis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Chronic Renal Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Fanconi Anemia
• Diamond-Black Fan Syndrome
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A thorough fertility preservation and reproductive late effects consultation helps children, men, and women understand their individual infertility risk factors as well as their reproductive options now and in the future. Our specialists will create a long-term reproductive health plan customized to your specific medical history and future goals.