Oocyte donation outcome after oncological treatment in cancer survivors

Background: Oocyte Cryopreservation has become an important part of infertility treatment for various reasons such as fertility preservation in women going for oncological treatment; in oocyte donation cycles; in eliminating several religious, ethical, and legal concerns of embryo freezing and in women who wish to delay childbirth. The newer ”vitrification” technique for freezing has further improved the success rates for actual conception than the earlier method of slow freezing. A successful oocyte freezing program can help in establishment of oocyte banks, which would help to provide compatible oocytes immediately, thus would eliminate the several problems of fresh donor cycles. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, total 60 oocyte donation cycles were included (38 were fresh and 22 were vitrified oocytes cycle, respectively). After a thorough screening, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for donors was performed using flexible antagonist protocol. All mature oocytes were allocated into “vitrified oocytes” and “fresh oocytes” groups. Vitrification technique using Cryotop method was used for oocyte freezing. Both clinical and laboratory outcomes of vitrified and fresh oocytes in donor cycles were compared. Results: A total of 600 oocytes (226 “vitrified oocytes” and 374 fresh oocytes), were studied. After warming 218 oocytes survived resulting in survival rate of 96.4%. Fertilization rate and embryo formation rate was 86.2% and 93.6%, respectively. Results of frozen-thawed oocyte donor cycles were compared with fresh donation cycles. For fresh oocyte group, fertilization rate and embryo formation rate was 83.4% and 92.6%, respectively. On comparing clinical outcomes, clinical pregnancy rate was 60.5% in fresh group and 63.6% in vitrified group. Conclusions: Both clinical and laboratory results obtained in the study suggest that oocyte cryopreservation can be performed with reproducible success, thus vitrification technique can be provided as a useful tool for achieving highly successful outcomes in an oocyte donor program.

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Structured Jaw Exercise in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors with Trismus Greatly Increases Chances of Being Pain Free 3-Years After Oncological Treatment

Journal of Cancer Science and Clinical Therapeutics ◽

10.26502/jcsct.5079095 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 04 (04) ◽

Author(s):

Paulin Andréll ◽

Therese Karlsson ◽

Ove Karlsson ◽

Susan Aghajanzadeh ◽

Caterina Finizia

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck Cancer ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Neck Cancer ◽

Oncological Treatment

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Study of the Awareness of Adoption as a Family-Building Option Among Oncofertility Stakeholders in Japan

JCO Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/jgo.18.00043 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 350-355

Author(s):

Eriko Shiraishi ◽

Kouhei Sugimoto ◽

Jason Solomon Shapiro ◽

Yuki Ito ◽

Keiko Kamoshita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Survivors ◽

Fertility Preservation ◽

Cancer Survivor ◽

Oocyte Retrieval ◽

Oocyte Donation ◽

Provider Education ◽

Patients With Cancer ◽

Complicated Process ◽

Adoption Agencies ◽

Gestational Carrier

Purpose The oncofertility decision tree was developed by the oncofertility consortium as a tool to support healthcare professionals and patients through the complicated process of deciding the most appropriate fertility preservation strategy for patients with cancer. Various strategies include oocyte retrieval, oocyte donation, use of a gestational carrier and adoption. However, differences in the cultural and legal landscape present serious barriers to utilizing some of these strategies in Japan. Patients and Methods We surveyed Japanese oncofertility stakeholders including 60 cancer survivors, 27 oncology facilities, 78 reproductive medicine facilities and 15 adoption agencies by a questionnaire to characterize awareness among oncofertility stakeholders in Japan about parenting options including adoption to inform work to establish guidelines for decision-making by cancer survivors in an oncofertility. Results Our results indicate that oncologists and reproductive endocrinologists in Japan have an insufficient understanding of adoption that prevents them from adequately informing their patients. Japanese cancer survivors self-describe a lack in confidence in finding a suitable partner and raising a child. Contrastingly, of the 9 adoption agencies which responded, no agency included being a cancer survivor as a criterion for disqualification and 4 of 9 (44%) adoption agencies reported at least 1 adoption to a cancer survivor in the last year. Conclusion Our work demonstrates that a cancer survivor’s medical history itself is not a hurdle to adoption and investment in patient-provider education could be a viable strategy to improve the utilization of adoption as a fertility preservation strategy in Japan.

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