Oocyte cryopreservation in oncological patients.
The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in oncological patients may reduce their reproductive potential. Sperm cryopreservation has been already used in men affected by neoplastic disease. Oocyte cryopreservation might be an important solution for these patients at risk of losing ovarian function. A program of oocyte cryopreservation for oncological patients is also present in our center. From June 1996 to January 2000, 18 patients awaiting chemotherapy and radiotherapy for neoplastic disease were included in our oocyte cryopreservation program. Our experience documents that oocyte storage may be a concrete and pragmatic alternative for oncological patients. The duration of oocyte storage does not seem to interfere with oocyte survival as pregnancies occurred even after several years of gamete cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.
Porcu
Eleonora
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Infertility and IVF Centre, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 13, 40138 Bologna, Italy. porcu@med.unibo.it
Fabbri
Raffaella
R
Damiano
Giuseppe
G
Fratto
Rosita
R
Giunchi
Susanna
S
Venturoli
Stefano
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009865:Oocytes