The pioneering case of ovarian cryopreservation in childhood in Hungary

Abstract

With the development of the paediatric oncohaematological care and improving healing results, the focus on survival with high quality of life increases. Some oncohaematological treatments have a high gonadotoxicity and can cause infertility, therefore the fertility preservation is gaining ground worldwide. Most of the fertility preservation procedures are not yet available in childhood in Hungary. One of the main fertility preservation methods is the ovarian cryopreservation followed by ovarian autotransplantation. The aim of this article is to introduce the first prepubertal ovarian cryopreservation procedure in Hungary. The procedure was a collaboration between the 2nd Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Semmelweis University. The patient treated with lymphoblastic granulomatosis was accepted for allogenic bone marrow transplantation, which conditional therapy has a very high gonadotoxic impact, with a consequential infertility. Also responding to the patient's family request, the oncoteam decided to carry out a fertility preservation procedure, an ovarian cryopreservation. With the necessary permits, we carried out the first laparoscopic ovarian removal for cryopreservation in a prepubertal girl at the 2nd Department of Paediatrics of Semmelweis University, resulting the tissue deep frozen at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Semmelweis University. With the development of oncohaematological treatments, there is a growing need for fertility preservation methods. Most of these are already available for women, but not for the age group under eighteen. The presented ovarian cryopreservation method for the 13-year-old girl is the pioneer case in Hungary. In the future, the authors aim to create a national oncofertility network that can serve as a basis for the smoothest care of similar cases. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(3): 104-109.