Cryopreservation and culture of human ovarian cortical tissue containing early follicles

Maturation of oocytes from primordial follicles after cryopreservation of ovarian tissue with subsequent in vitro fertilisation would be an important method of infertility treatment for young women who are to undergo premature ovarian failure due to chemotherapy or genetic causes. Cryopreservation of human ovarian tissue is already feasible. Human primordial follicles can be cultured regularly to secondary and occasionally to early antral stages, yet cultures have to be further optimised before meiotically competent oocytes can be achieved for final maturation in vitro. Maturation in vitro (IVM) of oocytes obtained by aspiration from small antral follicles is already a feasible technique resulting in pregnancies, with many healthy infants born. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.