Fertility preservation in women with cancer: update and perspectives

Abstract

With the increased number of cancer diagnoses among young women and the advances in treatment, many patients who may have had their fertility compromised by chemotherapy express desire to become pregnant in the future. Freezing embryos for later IVF so as to preserve fertility is a well established process. Oocyte cryopreservation by vitrification has evolved greatly in recent years and is no longer considered experimental. By 2009 more than 900 children were born from cryopreserved oocytes, without increased risk of congenital anomalies. The preventive use of GnRH analogues for ovarian suppression during chemotherapy to avoid premature ovarian failure has uncertain outcomes. Other techniques such as cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for later autograft are still considered experimental. Although use has already been reported in 24 births, doubts still persist and motivate further study. In vitro maturation of ovarian follicles is a promising alternative for preserving patient fertility and has shown positive results in rodents, monkeys, and humans. Caution should be used with experimental techniques, especially when offered to emotionally fragile patients. Therefore it is important to thoroughly convey information on the chances of pregnancy with existing treatments and the limitations of experimental techniques.