[French clinical practice guidelines developed by a modified Delphi consensus process for oocyte vitrification in women with benign gynecologic disease]

Abstract

Objectives: To provide clinical practice guidelines about fertility preservation (FP) for women with benign gynecologic disease (BGD) developed by a modified Delphi consensus process for oocyte vitrification in women with benign gynecologic disease.

Methods: A steering committee composed of 14 healthcare professionals and a patient representative with lived experience of endometriosis identified 42 potential practices related to FP for BGD. Then 114 key stakeholders including various healthcare professionals (n=108) and patient representatives (n=6) were asked to participate in a modified Delphi process via two online survey rounds from February to September 2020 and a final meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this final meeting to reach consensus was held as a videoconference in November 2020.

Results: Survey response of stakeholders was 75 % (86/114) for round 1 and 87 % (75/86) for round 2. Consensus was reached for the recommendations for 28 items, that have been distributed into five general categories: (i) Information to provide to women of reproductive age with a BGD, (ii) Technical aspects of FP for BGD, (iii) Indications for FP in endometriosis, (iv) Indications for FP for non-endometriosis BGD, (v) Indications for FP after a fortuitous diagnosis of an idiopathic diminished ovarian reserve.

Conclusion: These guidelines provide some practice advice to help health professionals better inform women about the possibilities of cryopreserving their oocytes prior to the management of a BGD that may affect their ovarian reserve and fertility.

Study funding/competing interest(s): The CNGOF (Collège National des Gynécologues Obstétriciens Français) funded the implementation of the Delphi process.

Keywords: Benign gynecologic disease; Conseils de bonne pratique; Consensus study; Delphi; Fertility preservation; Modified Delphi method; Oocyte vitrification; Pathologie gynécologique bénigne; Préservation de la fertilité; Vitrification ovocytaire.