Ovarian Tissue Banking Can Preserve Fertility Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital I receive so many calls from women who, while dealing with cancer, realize the lifesaving treatments might prevent them from having children," says Gloria Halverson, MD, co-director of Advanced Regional Fertility Services at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. "Until now, we've had nothing to offer to save their fertility." A relatively simple surgical procedure is changing that. Ovarian tissue banking (OTB) can preserve the ovarian tissue of women and children undergoing cancer treatment and other therapies that can destroy ovarian tissue and eliminate the option of bearing children. The minimally invasive surgery removes healthy tissue and stores it cryogenically (freezes it). The tissue is later reimplanted. "After the tissue is reimplanted, normal hormone production and ovulation returns, giving a woman a chance of becoming pregnant, " says Halverson. Halverson was one of just two infertility specialists recently named to Milwaukee Magazine's Physicians Hall of Fame after being cited in all four of the magazines' top doctor's lists since 1991. Halverson is co-director of the Advanced Regional Fertility Services. How to Select a Fertility Specialist There are many factors to consider before selecting a fertility specialist, says Estil Strawn, Jr. MD, board certified reproductive endocrinologist/infertility specialist and OB/GYN with the Advanced Regional Fertility Services at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Begin by checking with your insurance plan to see what options are available to you and to what degree the services are covered. Wisconsin does not have any laws that require insurers to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment. Physicians considered experts in female infertility include OB/GYNs who are board certified or board eligible in reproductive endocrinology, and those who have been in the relatively new field long enough to be considered experts. Urologists with a sub-specialty in andrology are highly qualified physicians to deal with male infertility. "Generally, we recommend couples consider fertility counseling after one year of actively trying, " says Strawn. "In some cases, it makes sense to start sooner, such as when a woman is over 35 years old." Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital. Check out our message boards in Peer Perspectives. Back to Experts' Advice Legal Stuff You Should Know