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DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388560
Pregnancies and live births after 20 transplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue in a single center
Objective: To report the results of 20 orthotopic retransplantations of cryopreserved ovarian tissue after cancer treatment in a single center.
Methods: Ovarian tissue was removed between 2005 and 2009 in different centers in Germany. The mean age of the patients was 30.55 years before oncological treatment. Among 20 cases of malignant disease, hematological malignancies (55%, n = 11) and breast cancer (20% n = 4) were the two main indications. Other indications were anal cancer (15% n = 3) and ovarian cancer (10% n = 2). All patients received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. On average two thirds of one ovary were removed laparoscopically. Overnight transportation of the removed tissue before freezing was required. Cryopreservation was done using slow freezing protocols in all cases. Retransplantation was performed on average 3.75 years after extraction in the OB/GYN, University Hospital Erlangen. In sixteen cases the thawed tissue was transplanted into a pouch of peritoneum in the region of the broad ligament, below the tube. In four cases fragments were sutured both onto the remaining ovary as well as into a peritoneal pouch.
Results: Restoration of ovarian activity occurred in all cases. Among the twenty patients six conceived, with one missed abortion, one ongoing pregnancy, one pregnancy after oocyte donation and three patients delivered healthy babies.
Conclusion: The presented data clearly demonstrates that fertility preservation by cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is a successful and safe clinical option, which can be considered for selected cancer patients.