Oocyte Vitrification for Fertility Preservation in Women with Benign Gynecologic Disease: French Clinical Practice...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Gynecology
• Oncology

Background:

• International guidelines exist for fertility preservation (FP) in adults and children.
• Benign gynecologic diseases (BGD) require specific FP considerations.
• Standardized care for BGD-related FP is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate evidence-based FP guidelines for women with BGD.
• To establish consensus among key stakeholders on FP practices for BGD.

Main Methods:

• Modified Delphi process involving 114 key stakeholders.
• Two online survey rounds and a final consensus meeting.
• Identification and evaluation of 42 potential FP practices for BGD.

Main Results:

• Consensus achieved on 28 FP practices for BGD.
• Age-specific information on diminished ovarian reserve risk after surgery deemed important.
• Rejection of specific upper/lower age limits for FP.
• Emphasis on informing all women about oocyte vitrification benefits/risks, including live birth likelihood by age.
• Recommendation against FP for early-stage endometriosis (rASRM stages I-II) without endometriomas.

Conclusions:

• Developed guidelines can aid gynecologists in identifying infertility risks in BGD patients.
• Guidelines support personalized counseling for FP in women with BGD.
• Enhanced patient information on oocyte vitrification and age-related outcomes is crucial.