Female Fertility Preservation: Current & Future Strategies

Abstract

Recently, the spectacular progress in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of different malignancies has increased the demands on fertility preservation. Fertility impairment is considered one of the complications of radio/cytotoxic treatments in females who managed to overcome their cancer. This issue of fertility preservation also concerns those who are at risk of developing ovarian failure as well as healthy individuals who aim to overcome age-related fertility decline. Regarding female fertility preservation, there are various options that could be selected according to various factors, including the patient’s age, type of the disease, as well as type and urgency of treatment. Among these options, embryo/oocyte cryopreservation as well as ovarian tissue cryopreservation and autotransplantation are the most reliable modalities for post- and pre- pubertal patients, respectively. Moreover, novel techniques such as the artificial ovary, isolation and cryopreservation of follicles and immature oocyte, potential pharmacological gonadoprotective agents, and stem cells transplantation have the potential to be used in the future. In this article, current and future female fertility preservation strategies are highlighted.