Fertility-sparing in cancer patients

Abstract

Fertility-sparing in cancer patients Sema Karakaş1, *, Cihan Kaya2 , Sebastian Daniel Schäfer3 , Mislav Mikuš4 , Milan Terzic5,6,7 , Bekhzod Abdullaev8 , Alessandra Andrisani9 1Department of Gynecological Oncology, University of Health Sciences, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, 34147 Istanbul, Turkey 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Acibadem Bakirkoy Hospital, 34147 Istanbul, Turkey 3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 5Department of Medicine, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 020000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 6 Clinical Academic Department of Women's Health, National Research Center of Mother and Child Health, University Medical Center, 020000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan 7Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA 8Department of International Relations and Scientific Development, Akfa University, 100190 Tashkent, Uzbekistan 9Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy *Correspondence: semaakyildiz@hotmail.com (Sema Karakaş) DOI:10.31083/j.ceog4804126 This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Submitted: 8 February 2021 Revised: 30 March 2021 Accepted: 31 March 2021 Published: 15 August 2021 Objective: This review aimed to investigate and summarize the current evidence on fertility-sparing options in cancer patients. Mechanism: Fertility preservation methods are becoming popular through the improved prognosis of cancer patients at a younger age and early diagnostic tools. However, currently, more and more women are suffering from iatrogenic ovarian failure and fertility loss because of cancer treatment. Most treatments have been used for hematological malignancies, but different gynecological cancers can be eligible. Findings in brief : Fertility preserving strategies such as oocyte and embryo cryopreservation, ovarian tissue preservation, ovarian transposition, and aspiration of ovarian follicles are the methods that could be suggested to the patients. The current knowledge supports oocyte and embryo cryopreservation as feasible, safe, and effective treatment approaches for cancer patients seeking fertility preservation. Conclusions: Robust evidence is still needed to prove the effectiveness of cryopreservation of the ovarian tissue and ovarian follicle aspiration approaches since these techniques are still in early their steps. Keywords Cryopreservation; Infertility; Organ transplants; Ovarian neoplasms