Cryopreservation/transplantation of ovarian tissue and in vitro maturation of follicles and oocytes: challenges for fertility preservation.
Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and in vitro follicle maturation are two emerging techniques for fertility preservation, especially in cancer patients. These treatment regimes are opening up more options and allow for more suitable choices to preserve fertility according to the patient's specific circumstances. If these technologies are to become widely accepted, they need to be safe, easy to perform and must obtain favorable results. The generation of healthy eggs with the normal genetic complement and the ability to develop into viable and healthy embryos requires tight regulation of oocyte development and maturation. Novel freezing techniques such as vitrification, along with whole ovary cryopreservation and three-dimensional follicle cultures, have shown favorable outcomes. The scope of this article is to take a comprehensively look at the challenges still faced in order for these novel technologies to be routinely employed with the aim of successful fertility preservation.
Varghese
Alex C
AC
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA. alexcv2008@gmail.com
du Plessis
Stefan S
SS
Falcone
Tommaso
T
Agarwal
Ashok
A
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009866:Oogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000637:transplantation*; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods