title: Preservation of fertility in women affected by cancer. An audit of the cryopreservation services provided for women at Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland.
abstract: There has been a remarkable improvement in survival rates for adult and childhood cancers, due to progress in cancer treatments. However multiagent chemotherapy and radiotherapy are associated with gonadal failure. Whereas sperm banking is commonly performed, female gametes are not so amenable to cryopreservation. Options available to women for fertility preservation include, embryo and oocyte cryopreservation. Our unit established an oocyte/embryo cryopreservation service for women affected by cancer in October 2003. Ninteen women have been referred and five (26%) women have had oocytes cryopreserved. The mean age of women in the group cryopreserved was 34 years (range 21-41). Their mean day 3 FSH was 6.2 IU (range 5.5-6.8). The mean dose of rFSH used was 1870 units (range 1500-2600). The mean number of oocytes cryopreserved was 8 (range 3-16). Preservation of fertility is of major concern to women affected by cancer. This service offers them hope for their future fertility.
authors.affiliation: Human Assisted Reproduction Ireland, Rotunda Hospital, Dublin. modonovan@rcsi.ie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008485:Medical Audit; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009865:Oocytes