Preserving Eggs and Ovarian Tissue Before Cancer Treatment
Preserving fertility before starting cancer treatment requires assessing the potential effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or certain surgical procedures that may affect your future pregnancy plans. In Turkey, egg freezing and ovarian tissue freezing can be planned promptly, depending on timing and medical suitability.
For egg freezing, the ovaries are stimulated in a controlled manner, and the mature eggs are collected under ultrasound guidance and stored using a rapid freezing method called vitrification. For ovarian tissue freezing, tissue fragments taken from the ovarian cortex are preserved in the laboratory; if considered appropriate in the future, they may be evaluated for reimplantation or use in assisted reproductive treatments.
Urgent planning should focus on avoiding unnecessary delays to cancer treatment. For this reason, it is important for the oncology, gynecology, and fertility preservation teams to coordinate using the same treatment schedule.
Authorization and Laboratory Standards for Egg Freezing in Turkey
When applying from abroad, check whether the center performing the procedure holds a Health Tourism Authorization Certificate issued by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye. You should also confirm that the IVF and embryology laboratory operates in accordance with relevant national regulations and that its procedures for egg acceptance, vitrification, tank monitoring, and record-keeping are explained in writing.
Teams working in reproductive endocrinology and infertility in Turkey may jointly manage transvaginal egg retrieval, controlled ovarian stimulation, vitrification, and egg thawing. The ovarian tissue option involves separate stages, including laparoscopic tissue retrieval, preparation of cortical fragments, cryopreservation, and assessment for possible reimplantation in the future.
Documents to Check When Choosing a Center
- Ministry of Health Health Tourism Authorization Certificate and relevant facility licenses
- The embryology laboratory’s scope of practice and cryogenic storage procedures
- Specialist teams experienced in egg freezing or ovarian tissue freezing
- Rapid consultation and oncology coordination according to the cancer treatment schedule
- A written agreement covering storage duration, tank safety, emergency procedures, and record-keeping systems
What Is Included in a Fertility Preservation Package for Cancer in Turkey?
In health tourism planning, the package may include VIP airport-to-city hospital transfers, accommodation, interpreter support, and coordination for initial post-procedure care or necessary basic products; obtain the exact scope from the clinic in writing. These services may be priced separately from the medical procedure itself.
For egg freezing, an initial assessment, hormone tests, ultrasound, and infection screening are generally followed by an approximately 10–14-day stimulation and monitoring period. In urgent situations, random-start protocols, which begin without waiting for a specific day of the menstrual cycle, may be considered; this decision is based on the planned start date of cancer treatment.
Ovarian tissue freezing may be considered when chemotherapy must begin very soon or when there is insufficient time for egg retrieval. Surgical tissue retrieval is generally planned as a short procedure; however, several additional days may be needed for hospitalization, pathology assessment, fitness to fly, and reports to be provided to the oncology team in your country.
Information Requested During the Initial Assessment
- Cancer type, biopsy or pathology report, and planned treatment schedule
- Age, menstrual pattern, and history of previous pregnancies or fertility treatment
- Ovarian reserve tests such as AMH and FSH, and ultrasound findings
- Previous surgeries, radiotherapy plan, and known genetic risks
- The oncology specialist’s opinion on how long the procedure may delay cancer treatment
Egg and Tissue Freezing Costs in Turkey
The cost of fertility preservation before cancer treatment in Turkey varies according to the method selected, tests, anesthesia, surgical scope, and storage period. The figures below are approximate international comparison ranges; they should not be treated as definitive quotes. You should also ask separately whether they include subsequent thawing, embryo creation, or pregnancy treatment costs.
The approximate cost of egg freezing in Turkey is often in the range of €3,000–6,000, while ovarian tissue freezing may cost approximately €4,000–8,000. Multiple egg retrieval cycles, additional surgery, long-term storage, and advanced laboratory procedures may increase the total cost.
| Country | Egg freezing | Ovarian tissue freezing | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 3,000–6,000 | 4,000–8,000 | € |
| United Kingdom | 5,000–9,000 | 7,000–12,000 | £ |
| Germany | 4,000–8,000 | 6,000–10,000 | € |
| USA | 8,000–15,000 | 10,000–20,000 | $ |
The comparison shows general ranges for the initial assessment, egg retrieval or tissue retrieval, and freezing stages. Accommodation, flights, pathology, annual storage, future thawing, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and embryo transfer may be charged separately.
Cancer-Specific Factors Determining the Price and Treatment Schedule
- Physician expertise and experience: The approach taken by teams working in reproductive endocrinology, oncofertility, and transvaginal egg retrieval can affect the speed of planning, particularly when treatment must begin within a few days.
- Method and laboratory infrastructure: Egg freezing uses vitrification and controlled ovarian stimulation; the tissue option involves laparoscopic cortical tissue retrieval, cryopreservation, and tissue safety protocols. The tissue option should be assessed separately according to the cancer type because of the possibility of transporting cancer cells.
- Clinic location: In major centers such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, access to oncology, surgical, and embryology teams within the same institution may be easier. The choice of city should be assessed together with airport access, the number of follow-up appointments, and your plans for returning to your country.
- Scope of the procedure: A single egg retrieval cycle may not be sufficient. Ovarian reserve results, age, and the treatment start date may determine the need for an additional cycle, anesthesia, surgery, or longer storage.
Three Oncofertility Questions to Ask Before Making a Decision
- Do I genuinely have a 10–14-day window for egg freezing before my cancer treatment begins? This question helps determine whether a random-start approach or direct ovarian tissue freezing should be considered.
- Can ovarian tissue freezing be considered safe for my cancer type and planned treatment? The possibility of transporting cancer cells to the ovarian tissue is particularly important when considering this option.
- What are the costs of thawing, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, embryo transfer, and storage for future use of the frozen eggs? Clarify in writing whether the initial quote covers only the freezing procedure or also future assisted reproductive stages.
When planning from abroad, send your pathology report, oncology treatment schedule, current hormone test results, and imaging results to the center in advance. The final method should be determined after an online pre-assessment, an examination in Turkey, and the joint opinion of the relevant specialists. Any change to the timing of your cancer treatment should be decided only with your oncology team.