Ovarian tissue banking is a feasible strategy for fertility preservation for young women after cancer treatments. Ovarian tissue, after thawing, is used for several options; orthotopic grafting (normal site), autologous heterotopic grafting and collection of ovarian follicles for culture. Recent reports of live birth encouraged clinicians and researchers to apply this technology to premature ovarian failure (POF) resulting from strong cancer therapy. Grafting, however, carries a risk of malignant cell recurrence. For safety, development of a culture method is necessary but optimum culturing conditions for less-developed follicles abundant in the ovary are not well known. In the present article, the current status of ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and in vitro oocyte growth and maturation from the preserved ovaries are reviewed.
Keywords: cancer; fertilization; infertility; premature ovarian failure; vitrification..