Random-start IVF treatment: An emergent fertility preservation technique between cytotoxic treatment courses and stem-cell transplantation in acute myelocytic leukemia

Abstract

Abstract Objective To report the ability to undergo two successive emergency IVF cycles between the cytotoxic treatments for a patient with AML waiting for stem-cell transplantation. Design Case report. Setting Fertility unit of a tertiary university medical center. Patient(s) A 28-year old woman diagnosed with AML and went through cytotoxic treatment. Intervention(s) Two emergency IVF cycles and OPU with embryo cryopreservation within 45 days between the cytotoxic treatment courses. Main outcome measure(s) Number of oocytes and/or embryos cryopreserved after two random start COSs. Result(s) 18 eggs were retrieved totally and a combined standard IVF/ICSI technique was used to fertilize them. 12 eggs fertilized and divided and all of them cryopreserved at day-2 stage. Conclusions Although it is still experimental, emergency IVF treatment considered as a novel approach for fertility preservation in cancer patients not only before the start of chemotherapy but even between the treatment courses if the patient’s physical and psychological conditions are stable and acceptable.