Ex-vivo oocyte retrieval for fertility preservation.
OBJECTIVE
To report a novel fertility preservation strategy in a woman with recurrent serous borderline ovarian tumor in the conserved ovary involving ex-vivo retrieval of in vivo matured oocytes and subsequent embryo cryopreservation.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Tertiary infertility care unit.


METHODS
A 27-year-old woman presented for follow-up visit with a history of borderline serous adenocarcinoma treated conservatively with left oophorectomy and fertility-sparing laparoscopic staging. Ultrasound scan revealed a recurrent disease in the right ovary.


METHODS
Ex-vivo retrieval of mature oocytes after ovarian stimulation.


METHODS
Fertility preservation.


RESULTS
The patient underwent ovarian stimulation followed by a laparotomy and oophorectomy on the day of oocyte retrieval. A puncture of the follicles was performed in the operating theatre with a maximum ischemia time of 14 minutes. Eleven mature oocytes were aspirating, resulting in seven zygotes for cryopreservation.


CONCLUSIONS
Mature oocytes can be successfully retrieved ex-vivo from the oophorectomy specimen after a controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocol. This method provides a possible strategy for fertility preservation in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer without the risk of cancer cells spillage associated with the standard transvaginal oocyte retrieval.
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Academic Hospital at Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Brussels, Belgium. hmousavi@uzbrussel.be
Human M
HM
Fatemi
Dimitra
D
Kyrou
Majedah
M
Al-Azemi
Dominique
D
Stoop
Philippe
P
De Sutter
Claire
C
Bourgain
Paul
P
Devroey
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D009865:Oocytes; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010053:Ovary / Q000601:surgery*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods