Transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue

The lifesaving treatment endured by cancer survivors provokes, in many cases, early menopause and subsequent infertility. In clinical situations where there is often a pressing need to start chemotherapy, ovarian tissue cryopreservation looks to be a promising option to restore fertility. It has been estimated that, by 2010, one in 250 people in the adult population will actually be childhood cancer survivors (1). The treatment of childhood malignancy is becoming increasingly effective. Aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as bone marrow transplantation, can cure more than 90 percent of girls and young women affected by such malignancies. However, the ovaries are very sensitive to cytotoxic treatment, especially to alkylating agents and ionizing radiation, generally resulting in the loss of both endocrine and reproductive function (2). Moreover, it is known that uterine irradiation at a young age reduces adult uterine volume (3). There are several potential options available to preserve fertility in patients facing premature ovarian failure, including immature and mature oocyte cryopreservation, embryo cryopreservation and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue(4, 5). For those patients who require immediate chemotherapy, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is a possible alternative (4, 6, 7).