Fertility preservation in cancer patients

Survival rates of female cancer patients are Improving steadily Clinicians are increasingly confronted with the long-term effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on the fertility of young women. Premature ovarian failure in women who wish to become pregnant is devastating both for the patient and her partner. In the case of predictable loss of gonadal function due to a planned cancer treatment fertility preservation options should be offered to the patient. Current methods of fertility preservation include conventional reproductive techniques as well as GnRH analogue treatment, cryopreservation of oocytes and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue Most of these techniques are still experimental and should only be decided after individual and patient-specific informed consent as well as interdisciplinary counselling