Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2014 Mar 27;18(1):16-23.
doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20140087.

Strategies to preserve the reproductive future of women after cancer

Bruno R de Carvalho  1   2 , Jhenifer K Rodrigues  3   2 , Jacira R Campos  4   2 , Adelino A Silva  1   2 , Ricardo M Marinho  3   2 , Ana Carolina J S Rosa E Silva  4   2
Affiliations
Review

Strategies to preserve the reproductive future of women after cancer

Bruno R de Carvalho et al. JBRA Assist Reprod. .

Abstract

Malignant and cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of death in Brazil. Estimates for 2013 predict the occurrence of 189,150 new cases of cancer in Brazilian women. With advanced detection tools, patients are diagnosed and treated for cancer at a younger age and are more likely to survive. The cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy very frequently implies serious damage to the gonads, and consequences due to the hypoestrogenism, such as osteoporosis, infertility and premature ovarian failure, are expected. Oncofertility, then, appears as a new area of reproductive medicine, which is dedicated to the development of strategies for the reduction of therapeutic sequels in cancer survivals, ultimately aiming the maintenance of their quality of life and the possibility of biological maternity. This article aims to present an overview of possible options for female fertility preservation after cancer and future perspectives in oncofertility.

Keywords: Fertility preservation; embryo cryopreservation; in vitro fertilization; oncofertility; oocyte cryopreservation; ovarian tissue cryopreservation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. American Cancer Society . Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Facts & Figures 2012-2013. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2012. [Accessed: July 19th, 2013]. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/docume... .
    1. Amorim CA, Van Langendonckt A, David A, Dolmans MM, Donnez J. Survival of human pre-antral follicles after cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, follicular isolation and in vitro culture in a calcium alginate matrix. Hum Reprod. 2009;24:92–99. - PubMed
    1. Ataya K, Moghissi K. Chemotherapy induced premature ovarian failure: mechanisms and prevention. Steroids. 1989;54:607–626. - PubMed
    1. Ataya KM, Palmer KC, Blacker CM, Moghissi KS, Mohammad SH. Inhibition of rat ovarian [3H] thymidine uptake by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists: a possible mechanism for preventing damage by cytotoxic agents. Cancer Res. 1988;48:7252–7256. - PubMed
    1. Azim A, Oktay K. Letrozole for ovulation induction and fertility preservation by embryo cryopreservation in young women with endometrial carcinoma. Fertil Steril. 2007;8:657–664. - PubMed