Fertility preservation in pre-pubertal girls with cancer: the role of ovarian tissue cryopreservation

Fertil Steril. 2016 Jan;105(1):6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.11.041. Epub 2015 Dec 8.

Abstract

With the increasing numbers of survivors of cancer in young people, future fertility and ovarian function are important considerations that should be discussed before treatment commences. Some young people, by nature of the treatment they will receive, are at high risk of premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. For them, ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) is one approach to fertility preservation that remains both invasive and for young patients experimental. There are important ethical and consent issues that need to be explored and accepted before OTC can be considered established in children with cancer. In this review we have discussed a framework for patient selection which has been shown to be effective in identifying those patients at high risk of premature ovarian insufficiency and who can be offered OTC safely.

Keywords: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation; fertility preservation; pediatric cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryopreservation* / ethics
  • Female
  • Fertility Preservation / adverse effects
  • Fertility Preservation / ethics
  • Fertility Preservation / methods*
  • Fertility* / drug effects
  • Fertility* / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infertility, Female / diagnosis
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Infertility, Female / physiopathology
  • Infertility, Female / therapy*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Ovary / transplantation*
  • Patient Selection
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Survivors*
  • Treatment Outcome