Ovarian stimulation during the luteal phase for fertility preservation of cancer patients: case reports and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To report the case of a patient with a diagnosis of infiltrative ductal carcinoma of the breast (case 1) and of a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma (case 2), both submitted to ovarian stimulation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in order to cryopreserve embryos and oocytes, respectively, in view of the need to start chemotherapy within a maximum of three weeks.


METHODS
Case reports.


RESULTS
Both patients were submitted to ovarian stimulation with recombinant follicle stimulating hormone together with pituitary blockade with a GnRH antagonist during the luteal phase of the cycle. Oocyte retrieval was performed nine days after the beginning of ovarian stimulation, with 12 mature oocytes being obtained in both cases. In case 1, all mature oocytes were submitted to ICSI, with fertilization and cleavage rates of 83.3% and 70%, respectively, and with the formation of seven good quality embryos. In case 2, all of mature oocytes were cryopreserved.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases demonstrate that it is possible to obtain mature oocytes when ovarian stimulation is started in the luteal phase in situations in which there is not sufficient time for conventional stimulation.
Bedoschi
Giuliano M
GM
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, USP, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
de Albuquerque
Felipe Oliveira
FO
Ferriani
Rui Alberto
RA
Navarro
Paula Andrea
PA
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006689:Hodgkin Disease; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase; D009865:Oocytes; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods*
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