Published in:
01-11-2012 | Fertility Preservation
Spontaneous in vitro maturation of oocytes prior to ovarian tissue cryopreservation in natural cycles of oncologic patients
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 11/2012
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Purpose
To evaluate the recovery rate and spontaneous in vitro maturation (IVM) of immature oocytes enclosed within or released from follicles during the processing of ovarian tissue prior to its cryopreservation.
Methods
Thirty-three oncologic patients who had not previously undergone chemo or radiotherapy underwent ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) during natural menstrual cycles. Immature oocytes, enclosed within follicles or released during ovarian cortex processing, were collected and matured spontaneously in vitro for 48 h. Nuclear maturation was assessed every 24 h and the ability of the IVM oocytes to display a normal activation response following parthenogenetic activation was evaluated. The following outcome measures were also evaluated: disease, age, FSH, LH, E2, P4 and AMH serum levels, menstrual cycle day, recovery and spontaneous IVM and parthenogenetic activation rates.
Results
Oocytes recovered per patient were 3.3 ± 0.7 (1.8–4.7 oocytes, 95CI), regardless of the menstrual phase. The mean number of IVM oocytes per patient was 1.3 ± 0.2 oocytes (95CI: 0.8–1.8), regardless of menstrual phase (p = 0.86) and oocyte origin (p = 0.61). Forty-one percent of oocytes extruded the second polar body and formed one pronucleus after parthenogenetic activation.
Conclusion
Twenty-one of the 33 women (63.6 %) requesting OTC produced at least one mature oocyte.