Ovarian reserve and response to stimulation in women undergoing fertility preservation according to malignancy type

Reprod Biomed Online. 2018 Aug;37(2):201-207. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.04.047. Epub 2018 May 2.

Abstract

Research question: Does ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation in women with cancer undergoing oocyte vitrification for fertility preservation vary according to the type of malignancy?

Design: Retrospective cohort study including 105 women aged between 18 and 40 years, who were referred for fertility preservation (oocyte vitrification) between 2013 and 2016. The women were divided into three groups: breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. All of them had been recently diagnosed with cancer, with gonadotoxic treatment scheduled, and had oocyte vitrification after ovarian stimulation with antagonist protocol.

Results: Baseline antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone were no different between women with breast cancer, lymphoma or other cancer. The number of cancelled cycles for poor ovarian response was similar between the groups. The number of FSH units per mature oocyte, the number of mature oocytes (metaphase II) retrieved, and the oocyte maturity rate were not significantly different between the three groups.

Conclusions: As the type of cancer does not seem to significantly affect ovarian reserve and ovarian response to ovarian stimulation, our results do not support the relevance of integrating this parameter when establishing ovarian stimulation protocol for oocyte vitrification cycle in women with cancer.

Keywords: Cancer; Fertility preservation; Oocyte vitrification; Ovarian reserve; Ovarian stimulation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cryopreservation / methods
  • Female
  • Fertility Preservation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms
  • Oocyte Retrieval
  • Oocytes / physiology*
  • Ovarian Reserve / physiology*
  • Ovulation Induction / methods*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vitrification
  • Young Adult