Fertility preservation in women for medical and social reasons: Oocytes vs ovarian tissue

Marie-Madeleine Dolmans, Marie‐Madeleine Dolmans, Jacques Donnez
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2020 · vol. 70 , pp. 63–80 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.06.011 · PMID:32800711 · W3045396472
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This paper reviews oocyte vitrification and ovarian tissue cryopreservation as fertility preservation methods for medical and social reasons, detailing their indications and outcomes.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 · read from full text ⓘ

This review discusses fertility preservation options for women seeking to postpone pregnancy for medical or social reasons, focusing on oocyte vitrification versus ovarian tissue cryopreservation. It describes how chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation can cause premature ovarian insufficiency depending on factors such as age, follicular reserve, and the drugs used, and it lists benign conditions such as recurrent endometriosis (along with thalassemia and lupus) and family history of premature menopause as indications. The authors report that oocyte cryopreservation is an effective approach but emphasize that further studies are needed in cancer patients to confirm outcomes comparable to those seen in women without cancer or in egg donation programs, while ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the only available option for prepubertal girls or when immediate therapy is required. Relevance to endometriosis: recurrent endometriosis is explicitly cited as an indication for fertility preservation within a broader review of fertility preservation strategies using oocytes and ovarian tissue.

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Fertility preservation in women for medical and social reasons: Oocytes vs ovarian tissue. (2021) Bailliere’s Best Practice & Research: Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology — Vol. 70, p. 63-80 (2021) (2021) Bailliere’s Best Practice & Research: Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology — Vol. 70, p. 63-80 (2021) - Authors - Author - Author Donnez, Jacques UCLouvain - Abstract - Approximately 10% of cancers occur in women under 45 years of age. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation cure more than 90% of cancer in women, but can result in premature ovarian insufficiency depending on follicular reserve, age, and drugs used. Some benign diseases are also indications for fertility preservation, particularly those requiring chemotherapy (like thalassemia and lupus), recurrent endometriosis, and family history of premature menopause. Social reasons also account for a large proportion of women who wish to postpone pregnancy. This article discusses the two main strategies for fertility preservation, namely oocyte vitrification and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, examining the indications and results of these options. Oocyte cryopreservation is an effective approach, but further studies are needed in cancer patients to ensure the excellent outcomes obtained in women without cancer or in egg donation programs. For prepubertal girls or cases where immediate therapy is required, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue is the only available option. - Affiliations - APA - Chicago - FWB Dolmans, M.-M., & Donnez, J. (2021). Fertility preservation in women for medical and social reasons: Oocytes vs ovarian tissue. Bailliere’s Best Practice & Research: Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 70, 63-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.06.011 (Original work published 2021)

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MeSH descriptors

Fertility Preservation Neoplasms Neoplasms Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Cryopreservation Female Humans Oocytes Pregnancy

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