Reproductive function after treatment of malignant germ cell ovarian tumors

Abstract

The outcome and reproductive function were examined among patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors treated since 1980. Between 1980 and 2001, fertility-sparing surgery was performed in 26 women, 23 of whom received adjuvant chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 66.6 months, all patients have been alive, with histological types of 6 immature teratomas, 8 dysgerminomas, 6 yolk sac tumors, and 6 mixed types. Clinical stages were involved of 17 early stage and 9 advanced stage patients. After treatment, 20 women out of 26 recovered menstruation within 6 months. During follow-up, two chemotherapy-untreated and one treated patients experienced 4 conceptions in total. A treated patient conceived but selected artificial termination by affection of chemotherapy. Conservative surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard approach to treat patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors. In these 20 years, we experienced no delivery, so that fertility seems to be seriously affected by treatments.