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Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation

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Abstract

While controlled ovarian hyperstimulation followed by IVF and cryopreservation of embryos is the most common and successful approach to fertility preservation for reproductive-age females diagnosed with cancer, there are many cases in which this approach may not be appropriate or possible. For some patients, a delay in cancer treatment for hormone treatment and egg retrieval is not acceptable, for others, hormone treatment may be contraindicated (e.g., for prepubertal patients and those with hormone-sensitive cancers), or they may not have a partner or willing sperm donor. Still other patients may have religious or moral objections to creating embryos. For these patients, ovarian tissue cryopreservation is an alternative option that does not require ovarian hyperstimulation or sperm. Cryopreserved tissue may be retransplanted into the patient at a later date to recover endocrine function and/or restore fertility. This chapter discusses the techniques required for ovarian tissue removal, cryopreservation, and transplantation and reviews current literature on outcomes of these procedures. While ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation are considered experimental approaches, they are the only option for certain patients and need to be included in discussions about fertility preservation.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Oncofertility Consortium NIH/NICHD 5UL1DE019587.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Colorado Denver, 12631 East 17th Avenue, B198-3, Aurora, CO, 80045-0508, USA

    Laxmi A. Kondapalli M.D., M.S.C.E.

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  1. Laxmi A. Kondapalli M.D., M.S.C.E.
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Correspondence to Laxmi A. Kondapalli M.D., M.S.C.E. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Market St 3701, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Clarisa Gracia

  2. Northwestern University, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, E Superior St 303, Chicago, 60611-3015, Illinois, USA

    Teresa K Woodruff

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Kondapalli, L.A. (2012). Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation. In: Gracia, C., Woodruff, T. (eds) Oncofertility Medical Practice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9425-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9425-7_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9424-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9425-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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