Raising Fertility Preservation Awareness on World Ovarian Cancer Day
Every year on 8 May, World Ovarian Cancer Day is commemorated across the globe to raise awareness about one of the most challenging reproductive cancers—ovarian cancer—which continues to have the lowest survival rate among female cancers. This is largely due to the lack of awareness about the disease and its symptoms, as well as delays in diagnosis.
At Cape Fertility, we are proud to support this global initiative. On World Ovarian Cancer Day, we highlight the urgent need for greater awareness—not only of ovarian cancer itself, but also of its significant impact on fertility—and the fertility preservation options available to those facing this diagnosis.
According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), ovarian cancer is not a single disease, but rather an umbrella term for more than 30 distinct types of cancer that can affect the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the primary peritoneal cavity. These various types of cancer differ significantly in how often they occur, how they progress, and how they respond to treatment.
What makes ovarian cancer particularly devastating is that there is currently no reliable screening test, and the symptoms are often subtle and mistaken for less serious conditions. As a result, most diagnoses are only made once the cancer has already spread—reducing treatment success and survival outcomes. Tragically, this makes ovarian cancer the deadliest of all female reproductive cancers.
Recognising the symptoms could save lives
Globally, an estimated 250,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and around 140,000 women lose their lives to it. In South Africa alone, thousands of new cases are reported annually. Yet, only about 45% of women diagnosed survive for more than five years—compared to nearly 90% of breast cancer patients.
However, when ovarian cancer is caught early—while still in Stage 1—up to 90% of women can survive at least five years. This makes early detection critical.
Some of the early symptoms to look out for include:
Other possible signs include fatigue, constipation, back pain, and menstrual irregularities. If any of these symptoms persist for more than three weeks, or if you have a family history of ovarian or related cancers, it is vital to seek medical advice without delay.
The impact on fertility
A diagnosis of ovarian cancer brings many challenges, and sadly, one of them may be the loss of fertility. The disease itself, or the treatments needed to combat it, can damage or remove the organs required for natural conception.
Standard treatment typically includes surgery and chemotherapy, and may also involve radiotherapy. In many cases, surgery involves the removal of both ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and the uterus—making a natural pregnancy impossible.
In some early-stage cases where only one ovary is affected, it may be possible to preserve the uterus and the healthy ovary, keeping the door open for a future pregnancy. However, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can damage the remaining ovary and may bring on early menopause.
Preserving fertility before treatment
For women of reproductive age facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis, it is essential to discuss fertility preservation options with a medical professional as early as possible—ideally before cancer treatment begins.
Medical advances now offer safe and effective methods to preserve fertility. One of the most reliable is egg freezing, which involves retrieving and preserving mature eggs for future use.
Egg freezing has become mainstream over the last 20 years. It is now a well-established procedure, thanks to major breakthroughs in both the freezing process and culture media used.
The introduction of vitrification—a rapid freezing technique—has significantly increased the survival rate of frozen eggs by preventing ice crystal formation. The use of specialised culture media also protects the eggs during the freezing and thawing stages.
Current data shows that babies born from frozen eggs are as healthy as those conceived through traditional IVF, with no increase in birth defects or developmental issues.
Fertility solutions beyond egg freezing
If egg freezing is not a viable option, other alternatives are available. These include IVF with donor eggs, surrogacy, or even adoption—each offering the opportunity to build a family after cancer treatment.
Fertility preservation at Cape Fertility
At Cape Fertility – a leading fertility clinic registered and accredited by the Southern African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) – we are proud to offer expert fertility preservation services, including advanced egg freezing techniques performed by highly qualified fertility specialists.
Our dedicated team ensures medical safety throughout the process, which typically spans two weeks and includes just five simple steps.
The entire procedure takes place at our purpose-built facility in Claremont, Cape Town. We use the most advanced technology, including Cryotec vitrification and cutting-edge culture media systems, to ensure excellent egg survival rates. Your eggs are safely stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C until you are ready to use them.
Our experienced team is here to guide you with individualised, compassionate care at every step of your fertility preservation journey.
Your first step in preserving your fertility by freezing your eggs at Cape Fertility is simply to contact us by clicking here our highly qualified and experienced fertility specialists will gladly answer your questions and address any concerns you may have.
We value each individual patient, and we look forward to providing you with our signature individualised and personalised care when you have eggs retrieved, frozen and stored in a friendly, relaxed and caring environment at our advanced, purpose-built facilities in the beautiful city of Cape Town.