title: Female fertility preserving practices at a pediatric unit: a challenge of multiprofessional and multidisciplinary cooperation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Being able to have children could have an important positive effect on the future lives of pediatric cancer survivors. Working at a cancer institute makes us responsible for filling the gaps in our knowledge in this area of patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe our activities in a series of young females diagnosed with cancer and evaluated for fertility preservation options. We discuss the developed skills and organization as well as the practical difficulties encountered in managing fertility preservation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Since September 2012, laparoscopy and cryopreservation of cortical ovarian tissue has been performed in 16 girls (with ovary transposition in 3, and after several cycles of chemotherapy in 5) and egg banking in 4 young women (before chemotherapy in 2 and several years after treatment in 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations on fertility preservation indicate that discussing the problems early on is crucial to future success. It is unthinkable to simply provide information and offer the opportunity to choose a fertility preserving technique without helping and accompanying patients and their families in their decisions and choices on the matter.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terenziani
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massimino
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Radiotherapy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori , Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandola
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangili
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raspagliesi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Biasoni
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Podda
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veneroni
authors.affiliation: Infertility Unit, Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riccipetitoni
authors.affiliation: Infertility Unit, Fondazione Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan - Italy.
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Somigliana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019458:Insurance Coverage; D007558:Italy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D009865:Oocytes; D010053:Ovary / Q000601:surgery*; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000639:trends; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents