Return of fertility after autologous stem cell transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To study cases where bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT)-induced menopause was entirely reversed.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
An inpatient BMT unit and an ambulatory fertility center in a university hospital.


METHODS
Two patients with Hodgkin's disease and two with advanced breast carcinoma requiring stem cell transplantation.


METHODS
Estrogen treatment, monitoring of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E(2)) levels, and, ultimately, monitoring of pregnancy.


METHODS
Pregnancy.


RESULTS
All four patients established pregnancies, but two of them elected to terminate due to the use of tamoxifen early in pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Menopausal changes resulting from BMT may spontaneously reverse, with reestablishment of normal hormonal function and viable pregnancies.
Hershlag
Avner
A
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Shore University Hospital-New York University School of Medicine, 300 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA. ahershlag@nshs.edu
Schuster
Michael W
MW
D000328:Adult; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000628:therapy; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D013629:Tamoxifen