Preliminary experience of ovarian tissue cryopreservation procedure: alternatives, perspectives and feasibility.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy induce premature ovarian failure in many patients treated for oncological or benign diseases. The present paper reviews the risk of developing premature ovarian failure according to the type of treatment and the different options to preserve fertility, focusing on the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. This technique constitutes a promising approach to preserve the fertility of young patients and offers the advantage of storing a large number of follicles that could be subsequently transplanted or cultured in vitro to obtain mature oocytes. Based on 34 requests, from which 19 were performed, the feasibility of the ovarian cryopreservation procedure is evaluated. The medical and ethical approaches of this protocol are also discussed. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue constitutes new hope for many patients, but must still be kept for selected cases, with a significant risk of premature ovarian failure after treatments such as bone marrow transplantation.
Demeestere
Isabelle
I
Research Laboratory on Human Reproduction; Fertility Clinic, Free University of Brussels, Erasme Hospital, 808 Route de Lennik, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. idemeest@ulb.ac.be
Simon
Philippe
P
Englert
Yvon
Y
Delbaere
Anne
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010053:Ovary; D011247:Pregnancy; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents