The Women’s In Time program helps young people up to the age of 24 with cancer preserve their fertility at no cost. This gives families hope for the future along with life-saving treatment.
When three-year-old Ivy began treatment for medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, her parents were focused on the day-to-day realities of hospital visits, MRI scans and home nursing care.
When doctors suggested preserving Ivy’s ovarian tissue to protect her fertility, it was a surprise.
“At the time, we were just trying to get through each appointment,” says Ivy’s mum, Kimberlee.
“You don’t even realise you need to worry about fertility. But being asked to think about her future as an adult was actually hopeful. It made us feel people weren’t just supporting her now, but also the life she might have in 20 or 30 years.”
Ivy is one of the first children to benefit from In Time. This new national fertility preservation service is led by the Women’s, made possible through philanthropic support from the Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
Breaking down barriers
Cancer treatments can damage fertility, placing 30–70% of these children at significant risk. Only 15% access fertility preservation before treatment starts. That number falls to just 4% if a patient lives outside a major centre.
Dr Genia Rozen is Co-Director of In Time and a fertility specialist at the Women’s. She says the new program is about giving families hope for the future.
“Every child with cancer should have the chance to preserve their fertility, no matter where they live in Australia,” Dr Rozen says.
“For parents facing the shock of a childhood cancer diagnosis, the chance to preserve fertility offers a rare moment of optimism about their child’s future.”
Through a national network, In Time will:
- Provide a transport and cryopreservation service. This way, tissue can be collected anywhere and sent to specialist centres for processing.
- Train and support clinicians across Australia.
- Drive research to make fertility preservation safer and more effective.
How it works
For children who have not reached puberty, the only option is tissue cryopreservation.
- Girls: a small piece of ovarian tissue is removed, sliced into thin strips and frozen. Later in life, the tissue can be transplanted back to produce eggs for IVF.
- Boys: testicular tissue can be collected and stored, with research underway to one day enable sperm production.
“In Time ensures that young Australians, no matter where they live, can access world-class fertility preservation and carry that hope forward,” Dr Rozen says.
Referrals can be made by a clinician or a family member, ensuring that support is available when it’s needed most.
About the program
In Time is made possible through a landmark $6.4 million philanthropic investment from the Children’s Cancer Foundation and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
Over the next five years, the program will be a beacon of hope for children with cancer, their families, and the wider community.
Sally Armstrong, Acting CEO of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, said the Foundation is excited and proud to support this unique program that will benefit families throughout Australia.
“It aligns beautifully with the Foundation’s vision, that Australian children with cancer will have access to world class treatment and support to survive and thrive,” Ms Armstrong said.
“The Women’s exceptional people, expertise and track record make them the perfect partner.”
This notion is shared by Margaret Zita OAM, CEO of My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
“We are delighted to be part of this program, which will have a profound impact on so many children and families across the country. This program is crucial in giving every child with cancer the best chance to survive and thrive, while continuing to support families on their journey and beyond,” Ms Zita said.
“It’s an honour to collaborate with the Women’s to deliver world-class care and meaningful support.”
Looking ahead
Alongside clinical access, the initiative will accelerate research into the toughest fertility challenges. These include making preserved tissue safe for children with leukaemia, developing eggs in the lab through in vitro maturation, and advancing testicular tissue preservation for boys.
For families like Ivy’s, research and care mean more than medicine. They mean the chance of a better future.
“It was great to know this was possible,” Kimberlee says.
“You’re dealing with so much at once, and then this comes up as something we could do for her future. That felt hopeful.”
Learn how to refer into the program: Fertility preservation for children & young adults with cancer | The Royal Women's Hospital