Fertility Preservation in Dubai: Before Cancer Treatment & Beyond | Dubai Fertility Clinics

Why Fertility Preservation Matters

Fertility preservation allows people to protect their ability to have children in the future. While most commonly associated with cancer patients facing treatment that may damage fertility, it's increasingly sought by healthy individuals planning ahead.

Who Should Consider Fertility Preservation?

Medical reasons:

Cancer patients before chemotherapy or radiation

Before surgery involving ovaries, uterus, or testes

Autoimmune conditions requiring gonadotoxic treatment

Gender-affirming treatment (hormone therapy or surgery)

Endometriosis with ovarian involvement

Personal/social reasons:

Women wanting to delay childbearing (social egg freezing)

Men in high-risk occupations

Before military deployment

Anyone wanting reproductive insurance

Options for Women

|--------|---------|----------------|-----------|

Egg freezing	Most women, best evidence	2 weeks for retrieval	15,000-30,000
Ovarian tissue freezing	Prepubescent girls, urgent cases	Days (surgical)	25,000-40,000
GnRH agonists	Adjunct during chemo	Before treatment starts	3,000-8,000

Options for Men

|--------|---------|----------------|-----------|

Sperm freezing	Most men	Same day	1,500-3,000
Testicular tissue freezing	Prepubescent boys	Days (surgical)	15,000-25,000

Fertility Preservation Before Cancer Treatment

Time is critical. If you've been diagnosed with cancer:

Ask your oncologist immediately about fertility effects of your treatment

Get a fertility consultation within days — most Dubai fertility clinics offer urgent appointments for cancer patients

Egg/sperm freezing can often be done in the 2-4 week window before treatment starts

Don't assume you can't preserve — even with tight timelines, options exist

How cancer treatments affect fertility:

|-----------|------------------|

Alkylating chemo (cyclophosphamide)	High
Pelvic radiation	High
Total body irradiation	Very High
Targeted therapy	Variable
Immunotherapy	Generally Low
Surgery (ovarian/testicular)	Depends on extent

The Process for Urgent Cases

For women (egg freezing before chemo):

Random-start IVF protocol (can begin any day of cycle)

10-14 days of stimulation

Egg retrieval under sedation

Eggs vitrified and stored

Cancer treatment can begin days after retrieval

For men (sperm freezing before chemo):

Can be done in a single visit

Multiple samples recommended if time allows (2-3 samples on different days)

Stored frozen indefinitely

Social Egg Freezing in Dubai

Beyond medical preservation, social egg freezing has become mainstream:

Available to all women in the UAE (married and unmarried)

Most clinics recommend freezing before age 35 for best results

Annual storage fees typically AED 2,000-5,000

UAE law allows storage for up to 10 years (extendable)

To use eggs later, you must be legally married under UAE law

Financial Considerations

Most insurance doesn't cover elective fertility preservation

Cancer patients: Some insurance plans cover medical fertility preservation — check your policy

Many clinics offer payment plans

Compare package deals (some include 1-2 years of storage)

Factor in annual storage costs for long-term planning

Important Questions to Ask

What are your egg/embryo survival rates after thawing?

How many eggs should I aim to freeze for my age?

What backup systems protect my stored specimens?

What happens if the clinic closes or I relocate?

What is the maximum storage duration?

Can specimens be transported to another facility if needed?