Cancer and fecundity issues mandate a multidisciplinary approach

Objective: To review the existing options for preserving fecundity in young cancer patients, outlining the differences that exist in each individual cancer situation and how these affect our choice of fecundity-preserving measures. Design: Review the pathophysiology data on ovarian function that serve for outlining the advantages and/or drawbacks of certain fecundity-preserving measures such as ovarian freezing and emergency IVF. Provide support arguments for outlining the need for setting locally rooted cancer and fecundity task forces that throw the bases for a multidisciplinary approach in this field. Setting: Review of literature data. Patient(s): Women of reproductive age affected with different types of cancer. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcome of selected emergency fertility preserving measure, such as ovarian tissue freezing followed by grafting or emergency IVF. Result(s): When performed in the 30s-the typical age for breast cancer, the most frequently encountered cancer in women of reproductive age, ovarian freezing hampers ovarian recovery and the chances for spontaneous pregnancy. Conclusion(S): Based on a review of the different situations encountered, we recommend that fecundity-preserving measures offered to young cancer patients, including ovarian freezing and emergency IVF, emanate from multidisciplinary approaches. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010;93:691-6. (C)2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)