Fertility Preservation Network adds Honolulu Facility

Aug. 23, 2011 - PRLog -- ReproTech, Ltd., a cryobank specializing in long-term storage of human reproductive tissue (sperm, eggs, embryos and ovarian and testicular tissue), recently reached an agreement with the International Fertility Center of Hawaii, adding the fertility clinic as one of just under 100 facilities included in ReproTech’s Fertility Preservation Network.  International Fertility Center of Hawaii, located in Honolulu, HI, joins the growing network of fertility centers providing much needed Fertility Preservation services to cancer patients prior to the initiation of oncology treatments.

“This is a very valuable service for cancer patients”, says J. Bruce Redmon, M.D., Medical Director for ReproTech, Ltd. “With the growing success of cancer therapies and tremendous advancements in fertility treatment, cancer survivors today have an excellent chance of having families provided they are given the opportunity to cryopreserve reproductive tissue prior to their oncology treatment”.

"With cancer survivor rates increasing, Fertility Preservation services are more important than ever for reproductive age patients.  International Fertility Center of Hawaii is pleased to offer these services, and to be a part of ReproTech's Fertility Preservation Network" says Donna Pratt, M.D., of International Fertility Center of Hawaii.

According to the American Cancer Society, 140,000 men and women of childbearing age are newly diagnosed with cancer each year.  There often is a small window of time for them to preserve their fertility; therefore, access to cryopreservation services is extremely important.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a clinical practice guideline in 2006, which addresses fertility preservation in people treated for cancer.  This guideline is the first in a series of guidelines from ASCO to address cancer survivorship issues and is in agreement with the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Ethics Committee report of 2005, which stated “Cancer treatment often results in reduced fertility. Cancer patients should be informed of options for fertility preservation and future reproduction prior to cancer treatment.”

ReproTech, Ltd has organized the Fertility Preservation Network to educate oncology professionals and caretakers, as well as provide the much needed cryopreservation services.  The network now includes members in 34 states and the Caribbean.  Additionally, the work of fertileHOPE and LIVESTRONG has advanced the awareness of the need for Fertility Preservation among the oncology community.


About ReproTech, Ltd.

ReproTech. Ltd. was founded in 1990 for the purpose of providing long-term cryostorage services and now operates cryostorage facilities in Florida, Minnesota and Nevada.  More information on ReproTech, Ltd is available at http://www.reprotech.com or 888-489-8944.  Information specific to the Fertility Preservation Network and its members can be found at http://www.fertilitypreservation.com.

About International Fertility Center of Hawaii

The mission of International Fertility Center of Hawaii is to provide its patients with the most modern infertility medical care in Hawaii within a warm and caring environment.  Dr. Pratt has over 20 years of experience in Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Endocrinology, and has practiced her skills in the U.S. and abroad.  IFCH offers state-of-the-art treatments including IVF, Egg Donation, Surrogacy, TESE/PESA, ICSI, Cryopreservation and Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).  To contact International Fertility Center of Hawaii, please call 808-537-1164 or visit http://www.fertilitycenterhawaii.com.

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ReproTech has specialized in long-term cryostorage and transportation of reproductive tissues since 1990. Network members offer Fertility Preservation services, and Auto Transfer Management enables IVF centers to eliminate future abandoned specimens.