Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Fertility Preservation Through Oocyte Vitrification: Clinical and Laboratory Perspectives
Published on: September 16, 2021
Fertility preservation in cancer patients
Mohamed A Bedaiwy1, Tommaso Falcone
1Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Samuel Lunenfel Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract:
Fertility preservation is an important but often neglected need of cancer patients. There are several options available but many are considered experimental or are unproven. Most require interventions that can postpone the initiation of cancer treatment. The options include surgical procedures to move the ovaries out of the path of a radiation field, prophylactic medical therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and storage of gametes, embryos or gonadal tissue. Embryo freezing after conventional in vitro fertilization has a high success rate. Experimental fertility preservation procedures such as oocyte freezing and ovarian tissue cryopreservation/transplantation should be offered to cancer patients only under institutional review board oversight. Laparoscopic ovarian transposition is a viable option if radiotherapy is to be used alone. Oncologists, reproductive endocrinologists and other healthcare professionals should be part of a multidisciplinary team that offers cancer patients options to preserve their reproductive potential if they desire to do so.
Related Concept Videos
Infertility in Females
Endometriosis, a condition characterized by abnormal growth of endometrial...
Infertility in Males
Treatment Resistent Cancers
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

