Fertility preservation strategies for cancerous women: An updated review

Turk J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jun 27;19(2):152-161. doi: 10.4274/tjod.galenos.2022.42272.

Abstract

Due to the increase in cancer among young women, the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency with subsequent infertility has been raised. Fertility preservation restores reproductive potential along with increasing life expectancy in these patients. Given the articles on new options for treating cancerous women, we searched the keywords, including fertility preservation, in vitro maturation (IVM), and ovarian cryopreservation. This review focuses on the currently available procedures, including in (IVM) of retrieved immature oocytes, oocyte, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). OTC is a helpful procedure that restores ovarian function and natural pregnancy. Also, we summarized the literature that reported the qualification of using the abovementioned procedures, comparing the cryopreservation methods including vitrification and slow freezing. Due to the impressive clinical development of OTC in cancerous patients, it is recommended as a standard treatment in cryopreservation strategies.

Keywords: Fertility preservation; in vitro maturation; ovarian tissue cryopreservation; ovarian tissue transplantation.