Preserving Fertility in Young Women Cancer Patients

A new way of preserving the fertility of women who must undergo chemotherapy has been developed by doctors at McGill University (Montreal, Canada).

The method can be done quickly and does not involve surgery or hormonal stimulation of the ovaries. Immature eggs are removed from a woman's ovaries and are matured by a technique called in-vitro maturation (IVM), which has been successfully used for eight female cancer patients.

"Our technique does not involve hormone therapy or surgery,” said Dr. Seang-Lin Tan, director of the McGill University Reproductive Center. "Women with cancer should be offered immature egg collection and egg or embryo freezing to preserve their fertility before they commence their cancer treatment.”

The easiest technique of preserving fertility in young women with cancer is in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo freezing, but this option is only available to adults with a partner. Another technique involves removing a piece of the ovary, then freezing and transplanting it after the patient finishes chemotherapy. However, this technique has not been very effective.




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