Healthy twins delivered after oocyte cryopreservation and bilateral ovariectomy for ovarian cancer.
Anti-neoplastic treatments have significantly increased the survival of cancer patients, but female patients risk premature menopause. Oocyte cryopreservation has been proposed as a fertility-saving option. This report describes the first live birth achieved with autologous cryopreserved oocytes in an ovariectomized borderline cancer patient. A patient with a borderline ovarian tumour asked for oocyte cryopreservation after a right adnexectomy. Ovulation induction resulted in the retrieval and cryopreservation of seven mature oocytes. Thirty-nine months after a left ovariectomy, the patient asked for oocyte thawing and embryo transfer. Endometrial growth was induced using hormone replacement treatment. Three of the seven cryopreserved oocytes were thawed; they survived and, after insemination, normal fertilization took place. Three embryos were transferred into the patient's uterus. A twin pregnancy was achieved with the birth of two healthy females. Oocyte cryopreservation may be a reliable option for preserving fertility in young cancer patients who risk premature menopause due to surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Porcu
E
E
Dept of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Infertility and IVF Centre, S Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 13, 40138 Bologna, Italy. eleonora.porcu@unibo.it
Venturoli
S
S
Damiano
G
G
Ciotti
P M
PM
Notarangelo
L
L
Paradisi
R
R
Moscarini
M
M
Ambrosini
G
G
D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D050498:Live Birth; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D009865:Oocytes; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014427:Twins