Ovarian tissue and oocyte cryopreservation

Abstract

Although currently investigational, ovarian tissue cryopreservation and oocyte cryopreservation hold promise for future female fertility preservation, particularly following aggressive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment protocols.

Reproductive ‘Choice’ and Egg Freezing

“…These risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) [18], low success rates [19],6 risk to future offspring [9]7 [20, 21] and also the devastation and sense of loss if the future fertility treatment is not successful. Although these risks do exist, there is evidence suggesting that the risk may be higher for women with cancer or other diseases compared to the risk for healthy women who use the procedure to guard against age-related infertility.…”

“…For example, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) continues to discourage physicians from marketing egg freezing to women as a means of deferring reproductive aging [9]. The ASRM recognizes that many women have an interest in this technology, but maintains that egg freezing is still an ‘experimental’ [10] procedure that should only be used for medical reasons 5.…”

Ovarian cryopreservation after laparoscopic ovariectomy using the Endo-GIA stapling device and LAPRO-clip absorbable ligating clip in a woman: a case report

“…Embryo cryopreservation results in good pregnancy rates, but the patient needs to be of pubertal or postpubertal age, have a partner and be able to undergo a cycle of ovarian stimulation [1]. Ovarian stimulation is not possible when chemotherapy cannot be delayed or when stimulation is contraindicated.…”

Participation in Investigational Fertility Preservation Research: A Feminist Research Ethics Approach

“…While the end goals of oncofertility research are oriented toward safeguarding the possibility of biological reproduction for women and girls facing cancer treatments that may affect their reproductive capacity, considerable basic and clinical research is still needed in order for oocyte cryopreservation, in vitro follicle maturation, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation to become established fertility preservation techniques. In fact, at the time of writing, all of the professional organizations that have published guidelines on fertility preservation techniques consider embryo cryopreservation to be the only established fertility preservation method utilizing assisted reproductive technology (ART), while oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are considered investigational or experimental techniques that should only be offered under Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved research protocols [2–8]. …”

“…Further clinical research with these patients will help to determine the optimal patient population, techniques for collecting tissue, and protocols for cryopreservation and in vitro follicle maturation [8]. In addition, human oocytes and ovarian tissue are needed in order to conduct basic research to establish the appropriate patient population, methods of tissue collection, and cryopreservation and maturation techniques that will help the oncofertility enterprise move these techniques from investigational to established methods of fertility preservation [3, 8]. …”