Development and implementation of a turnkey national fertility preservation program between a reproductive tissue bank and infertility treatment centers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A prototype program was developed to make male fertility preservation services nationally accessible to those in need and to increase awareness of these options in the oncology community.DESIGN: Development of a turnkey fertility preservation program.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first stage of development includes research of potential locations whose populations would benefit from fertility preservation. These locations include major metropolitan areas near oncology institutes and remote areas where services are not provided. Next is the selection of an infertility center to become a service provider in the given location. The center must meet the criteria of excellent patient service, Andrology laboratory capacity, appropriate accreditations and a passion for fertility preservation. An agreement is established between both parties on operational components. These components include: laboratory services rendered to patients, consultative and administrative duties, alignment of SOPs, specimen transfer coordination and verification of protocol acceptance. The tissue bank's responsibilities include: patient consultation via phone, billing, managing infectious disease test results and long-term specimen storage. Concurrent consumer and physician fertility preservation awareness campaigns are launched in selected location. Partnerships between tissue bank and young adult oncology support organizations such as Fertile Hope and I'm Too Young For This! are essential in raising awareness of these options.RESULTS: 70,000 young adults are diagnosed annually with cancer. The creation of the turnkey fertility preservation program and implementation of its first service provider has generated interest and support in both the oncology and fertility fields. Subsequent service providers will be added across the nation.CONCLUSIONS: The service provider turnkey program raises awareness of male fertility preservation options and accessibility to these services for both oncology physicians and patients. OBJECTIVE: A prototype program was developed to make male fertility preservation services nationally accessible to those in need and to increase awareness of these options in the oncology community. DESIGN: Development of a turnkey fertility preservation program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first stage of development includes research of potential locations whose populations would benefit from fertility preservation. These locations include major metropolitan areas near oncology institutes and remote areas where services are not provided. Next is the selection of an infertility center to become a service provider in the given location. The center must meet the criteria of excellent patient service, Andrology laboratory capacity, appropriate accreditations and a passion for fertility preservation. An agreement is established between both parties on operational components. These components include: laboratory services rendered to patients, consultative and administrative duties, alignment of SOPs, specimen transfer coordination and verification of protocol acceptance. The tissue bank's responsibilities include: patient consultation via phone, billing, managing infectious disease test results and long-term specimen storage. Concurrent consumer and physician fertility preservation awareness campaigns are launched in selected location. Partnerships between tissue bank and young adult oncology support organizations such as Fertile Hope and I'm Too Young For This! are essential in raising awareness of these options. RESULTS: 70,000 young adults are diagnosed annually with cancer. The creation of the turnkey fertility preservation program and implementation of its first service provider has generated interest and support in both the oncology and fertility fields. Subsequent service providers will be added across the nation. CONCLUSIONS: The service provider turnkey program raises awareness of male fertility preservation options and accessibility to these services for both oncology physicians and patients.