Fertility Preservation in Women with Cervical Cancer

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Oncology
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Cervical cancer (CC) frequently affects young women of childbearing age.
• Fertility preservation (FP) is a crucial aspect of CC management.
• Treatment decisions must balance oncological safety with reproductive desires.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of available FP options for young women diagnosed with CC.
• To discuss the feasibility of FP techniques based on CC stage and treatment modalities.
• To highlight recent advancements in uterine preservation for CC patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of fertility preservation strategies in cervical cancer.
• Analysis of FP options according to cervical cancer stage (early vs. locally advanced).
• Evaluation of surgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic approaches impacting fertility.

Main Results:

• Early-stage CC: Fertility-sparing surgery is a viable option.
• Locally advanced CC without metastasis: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by fertility-sparing surgery is possible.
• Locally advanced CC requiring radical treatment: Oocyte, embryo, or ovarian tissue cryopreservation enables future pregnancy via surrogacy.
• Uterine transposition is a novel approach to protect the uterus from radiation damage.

Conclusions:

• Fertility preservation in cervical cancer is achievable through various methods tailored to disease stage and treatment.
• Fertility-sparing surgery and cryopreservation techniques offer significant hope for young patients.
• Uterine transposition presents a promising alternative for preserving uterine anatomy in advanced disease.