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Live birth rate after use of cryopreserved oocytes or embryos at the time of cancer diagnosis in female survivors: a retrospective study of ten years of experience

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of frozen oocytes or embryos cryopreserved after controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) or in vitro maturation (IVM) for female cancer patients who underwent a fertility preservation (FP) prior to gonadotoxic therapy.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study from 2009 to December 2017 was conducted. Among the 667 female cancer patients who underwent oocytes or embryos cryopreservation for FP, 40 (6%) have returned to the fertility clinic between 2011 and 2019 to use their frozen material after being cured. We compared these thaw cycles outcomes according to the techniques used at the time of cryopreservation.

Results

Among the 40 women cancer survivors who used their cryopreserved material, thirty patients have benefited from at least one embryo transfer. Ten patients did not have an embryo transfer since the oocytes did not survive after the thawing process or because no embryo was obtained after fertilization. We related three live births following FP using IVM (two from frozen oocytes and one after embryo cryopreservation). Five live births were obtained when COS was performed at the time of FP (one from frozen oocytes and four after embryo cryopreservation).

Conclusions

Our preliminary results, although they are obtained in a small sample, are encouraging and show that different FP techniques can be used in female cancer patients and lead to live births. IVM is one of the options available that does not delay the start of chemotherapy or if ovarian stimulation using gonadotropins is contraindicated.

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Acknowledgements

With regard to their commitment to patient care, the authors would like to thank all the members of the reproductive medicine center of the Antoine Béclère Hospital and are grateful to couples–patients who consent to the use of their medical data. They also thank Doctor Astrid Finet De Bantel (native English speaker, Mathilde Clinic, Rouen, France) and Doctor Emine Hamza (native English speaker, Antoine Beclere Hospital, Clamart, France) for copyediting assistance.

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Author notes

  1. Charlotte Sonigo and Nelly Frydman contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Biology Unit CECOS, Antoine Béclère Hospital APHP, Paris-Saclay University, 157 rue de la porte de Trivaux, Clamart, 92140, Paris, France

    Anne Mayeur, Vincent Puy, Victoria Windal, Laetitia Hesters & Nelly Frydman

  2. Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMRE008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiation, Paris University, Paris-Saclay University, CEA, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, Paris, France

    Vincent Puy & Nelly Frydman

  3. Department of Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Preservation, Antoine Béclère Hospital, APHP, Paris-Saclay University, Clamart, 92140, Paris, France

    Vanessa Gallot, Alexandra Benoit, Michael Grynberg & Charlotte Sonigo

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  1. Anne Mayeur
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  2. Vincent Puy
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Contributions

All authors have been involved in the conception and design, or acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data. A.M., V.P.,V.W., L.H., V.G., and A.B. drafted the manuscript. M.G., C.S., and N.F. revised the article for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final version to be published.

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Correspondence to Anne Mayeur.

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Mayeur, A., Puy, V., Windal, V. et al. Live birth rate after use of cryopreserved oocytes or embryos at the time of cancer diagnosis in female survivors: a retrospective study of ten years of experience. J Assist Reprod Genet 38, 1767–1775 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02168-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-021-02168-3

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