The safety and satisfaction of ovarian tissue cryopreservation in prepubertal and adolescent girls. Issue 4 (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lotz, Laura; Barbosa, Patricia Reis; Knorr, Christian; Hofbeck, Louisa; Hoffmann, Inge; Beckmann, Matthias W; Antoniadis, Sophia; Dittrich, Ralf
• Is Part Of: Reproductive biomedicine online. Volume 40:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 547
• Page End: 554
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Adolescent females -- Cancer -- Fertility preservation -- Ovarian tissue cryopreservation -- Ovarian tissue transplantation -- Prepubertal females; Human reproductive technology -- Periodicals; Human embryo -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; 616.692
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-6483

Abstract

Abstract: Research question: Is ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) for fertility preservation in prepubertal and adolescent girls safe, and who would benefit most from the procedure? Design: Survey and retrospective study including patients who had OTC under the age of 18 years in a single centre for fertility preservation. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels were measured as a marker for detection of diminished ovarian reserve. Results: Fifty-three from 102 women participated in the survey (12 deceased, 19 declined, 17 unreachable, 1 palliative). The average age at OTC was 14.8 ± 2.3 (range: 6–17) years and at survey 21.9 ± 4.3 (range: 16–33) years. Ovarian tissue retrieval (laparoscopy: n = 45, laparotomy: n = 8) was without complications in 52 cases. In 23 (53.5%) of the 43 women who were post-menarchal at OTC, transient amenorrhoea occurred. At survey, 15 women reported a regular menstrual cycle, 25 used oral contraceptives, 9 women reported hormone replacement therapy due to primary ovary insufficiency and 4 had amenorrhoea. Two patients reported the birth of a healthy child after IVF, while 51 patients are still childless, mostly due to their young age (mean: 21.2 years). To date, one patient has had transplantation of the ovarian tissue (17 years at cryopreservation). Forty-nine of the interviewees would again decide on OTC, while three argued against it on the basis of the previous financial cost; one woman was unsure. Conclusions: Children with cancer may be at risk for gonadal insufficiency. OTC is practically the only technique that can be offered to young girls. The procedure is safe and well accepted.