Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue: Opportunities beyond fertility preservation and a positive view into the future

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue

T2 - Opportunities beyond fertility preservation and a positive view into the future

AU - Kristensen, Stine G.

AU - Andersen, Claus Y.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - In current years, ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) and transplantation is gaining ground as a successful method of preserving fertility in young women with primarily cancer diseases, hereby giving them a chance of becoming biological mothers later on. However, OTC preserves more than just the reproductive potential; it restores the ovarian endocrine function and thus the entire female reproductive cycle with natural levels of essential hormones. In a female population with an increased prevalence in the loss of ovarian function due to induced primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and aging, there is now, a need to develop new treatments and provide new opportunities to utilize the enormous surplus of follicles that most females are born with and overcome major health issues associated with the lack of ovarian hormones. Cell/tissue-based hormone replacement therapy (cHRT) by the use of stored ovarian tissue could be one such option comprising both induction of puberty in prepubertal POI girls, treatment of POI and premature menopause, and as primary prevention at the onset of menopause. In the current review, we explore known and entirely new applications for the potential utilization of OTC including cHRT, social freezing, culture of immature oocytes, and a modern ovarian resection for women with polycystic ovaries, and discuss the indications hereof.

AB - In current years, ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) and transplantation is gaining ground as a successful method of preserving fertility in young women with primarily cancer diseases, hereby giving them a chance of becoming biological mothers later on. However, OTC preserves more than just the reproductive potential; it restores the ovarian endocrine function and thus the entire female reproductive cycle with natural levels of essential hormones. In a female population with an increased prevalence in the loss of ovarian function due to induced primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and aging, there is now, a need to develop new treatments and provide new opportunities to utilize the enormous surplus of follicles that most females are born with and overcome major health issues associated with the lack of ovarian hormones. Cell/tissue-based hormone replacement therapy (cHRT) by the use of stored ovarian tissue could be one such option comprising both induction of puberty in prepubertal POI girls, treatment of POI and premature menopause, and as primary prevention at the onset of menopause. In the current review, we explore known and entirely new applications for the potential utilization of OTC including cHRT, social freezing, culture of immature oocytes, and a modern ovarian resection for women with polycystic ovaries, and discuss the indications hereof.

KW - Cell/tissue-based hormone replacement therapy

KW - Fertility preservation

KW - In vitro maturation

KW - Induction of puberty

KW - Ovarian resection

KW - Ovarian tissue cryopreservation

KW - Social freezing

U2 - 10.3389/fendo.2018.00347

DO - 10.3389/fendo.2018.00347

M3 - Review

C2 - 30002647

AN - SCOPUS:85049355449

SN - 1664-2392

VL - 9

JO - Frontiers in Endocrinology

JF - Frontiers in Endocrinology

IS - JUL

M1 - 347

ER -