Follow-up after fertility preservation in female Austrian breast cancer patients due to gonadotoxic treatment

Gonadotoxic treatment in female cancer patients can lead to reversible or permanent impaired fertility. Different methods of fertility preservation are offered, including cryopreservation of (non-) fertilized oocytes, cryopreservation of ovarian tissue, and GnRH analogues.

In this prospective single-center study, return to menstrual cycle, antral follicle count (AFC) and Anti Mullerian hormone (AMH) as well as pregnancy rate were assessed in female breast cancer patients, who underwent fertility preservation methods at the Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck (June 2021 – November 2021). The department holds the biggest cryobank of ovarian tissue in Austria, offering the procedure since 2007.

Out of 338 patients who underwent fertility preservation counseling 25 breast cancer patients attended the follow-up visit. At time of cancer diagnosis, these patients underwent at least one of the following methods: cryopreservation of (non-) fertilized oocytes (n=22 [88%]), cryopreservation of ovarian tissue (n=11 [44%]), GnRH analogues (n=25 [100%]).Mean age at fertility preservation and follow-up visit was 32.8 and 37.5 years. 16 (64%) patients returned to regular menstrual cycle. Six (17%) women already fulfilled their childwish, whereas 9 (35%) women expressed the desire to have children at time of follow up. Out of 8 women, who conceived after gonadotoxic treatment, two underwent ovarian tissue transplantation. Mean AMH levels decreased significantly from 3.7 ng/ml before to 1.6 ng/ml after gonadotoxic treatment (p<0.001).

Fertility preservation is of utmost importance in young female cancer patients. The majority of women return to a regular menstrual cycle with normal AMH levels.

Interessenskonflikt

Ich erkläre als korrespondierender Autor, dass meine Koautoren mir mitgeteilt haben, dass sie während der letzten 3 Jahre keine wirtschaftlichen oder persönlichen Verbindungen im oben genannten Sinne hatten. Auch ich selbst hatte keine derartigen Verbindungen in den letzten 3 Jahren.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. Juni 2022