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Fertility preservation in women with early ovarian cancer

  • Daniel Necula EMAIL logo , Daria Istrate and Jérôme Mathis
Published/Copyright: December 17, 2020
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Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation
From the journal Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation Volume 43 Issue 2

Abstract

Fertility preservation is an important option to consider for young women with low-grade early ovarian cancer. Fertility-sparing surgery (“FSS”) permits the conservation of the uterus and one of the ovaries. This technique is considered safe for stages IA G1, G2 and probably safe for IC G1 epithelial and non-epithelial ovarian cancers. There are still uncertainties and FSS is not fully accepted for stage IC G1, G2 and clear cell carcinoma. The difficulty in choosing the best option lies in the fact that there is a lack of prospective randomized studies, due to ethical and organizational issues. Retrospective studies and reviews showed reassuring results for FSS in terms of relapse and long term survival. The spontaneous pregnancy rate seems to decrease after FSS, but chemotherapy does not seem to have an impact on fertility rates. Compared with the general population, assisted reproductive techniques are considered safe and with similar fertility results.

Keywords: assisted reproductive techniques; early ovarian cancer; fertility preservation; fertility sparing surgery; oncological safety
Corresponding author: Dr. Daniel Necula, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Biel Hospital, Vogelsang 84, 2502 Biel, Switzerland, Phone: 0041 32 324 1464, E-mail:

  1. Research funding: None declared.

  2. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

  4. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  5. Ethical approval: Not applicable.

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Received: 2020-04-26
Accepted: 2020-11-19
Published Online: 2020-12-17

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Special Issue 1: Adenomyosis and Endometriosis: An Update; Edited by René Druckmann and Adolf E. Schindler
  3. Review Articles
  4. The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques: role of fertility preservation
  5. A narrative review of functional outcomes following nerve-sparing surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis
  6. Appropriate surgical management of ovarian endometrioma: excision or drainage?
  7. Diaphragmatic endometriosis and thoracic endometriosis syndrome: a review on diagnosis and treatment
  8. Rates of anastomotic leak and fistula following surgical management of bowel endometriosis: a comparison of shaving, discoid excision, and segmental resection
  9. Endometriosis at all ages: diagnostic ultrasound
  10. Special Issue 2: Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients and Survivors; Edited by René Druckmann and Adolf E. Schindler
  11. Opinion Paper
  12. Quality of life and sexual dysfunction in gynaecological cancer patients: a psychosomatic approach
  13. Review Articles
  14. Fertility preservation in women with early ovarian cancer
  15. Fertility in BRCA mutation carriers: counseling BRCA-mutated patients on reproductive issues
  16. Fertility preservation in borderline ovarian tumor patients and survivors
  17. Regular Issue
  18. Original Articles
  19. Effects of iron-related compounds and bilirubin on redox homeostasis in endometriosis and its malignant transformations
  20. miR-515-3p, miR-623, miR-1272 and Notch3 protein as new biomarkers of Hepatocellular carcinoma
  21. Combination therapy of calcitriol inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells: new concept of nonclassical function of calcitriol
  22. The change pattern in serum G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER1) levels during pregnancy with and without gestational diabetes mellitus
  23. Effects of Helichrysum Psudoplicatum supplementation on pruritus intensity, fatigue, quality of life and anorexia in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial
  24. The anticancer and free radical scavenging potential of the Unani medicine Agaricus albus L.
  25. Review Articles
  26. What is the optimal luteal support in assisted reproductive technology?
  27. The relation between obesity, kisspeptin, leptin, and male fertility
https://doi.org/10.1515/hmbci-2020-0026
Keywords for this article
assisted reproductive techniques; early ovarian cancer; fertility preservation; fertility sparing surgery; oncological safety

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Special Issue 1: Adenomyosis and Endometriosis: An Update; Edited by René Druckmann and Adolf E. Schindler
  3. Review Articles
  4. The impact of endometriosis on the outcome of assisted reproductive techniques: role of fertility preservation
  5. A narrative review of functional outcomes following nerve-sparing surgery for deeply infiltrating endometriosis
  6. Appropriate surgical management of ovarian endometrioma: excision or drainage?
  7. Diaphragmatic endometriosis and thoracic endometriosis syndrome: a review on diagnosis and treatment
  8. Rates of anastomotic leak and fistula following surgical management of bowel endometriosis: a comparison of shaving, discoid excision, and segmental resection
  9. Endometriosis at all ages: diagnostic ultrasound
  10. Special Issue 2: Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients and Survivors; Edited by René Druckmann and Adolf E. Schindler
  11. Opinion Paper
  12. Quality of life and sexual dysfunction in gynaecological cancer patients: a psychosomatic approach
  13. Review Articles
  14. Fertility preservation in women with early ovarian cancer
  15. Fertility in BRCA mutation carriers: counseling BRCA-mutated patients on reproductive issues
  16. Fertility preservation in borderline ovarian tumor patients and survivors
  17. Regular Issue
  18. Original Articles
  19. Effects of iron-related compounds and bilirubin on redox homeostasis in endometriosis and its malignant transformations
  20. miR-515-3p, miR-623, miR-1272 and Notch3 protein as new biomarkers of Hepatocellular carcinoma
  21. Combination therapy of calcitriol inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells: new concept of nonclassical function of calcitriol
  22. The change pattern in serum G protein-coupled estrogen receptor-1 (GPER1) levels during pregnancy with and without gestational diabetes mellitus
  23. Effects of Helichrysum Psudoplicatum supplementation on pruritus intensity, fatigue, quality of life and anorexia in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial
  24. The anticancer and free radical scavenging potential of the Unani medicine Agaricus albus L.
  25. Review Articles
  26. What is the optimal luteal support in assisted reproductive technology?
  27. The relation between obesity, kisspeptin, leptin, and male fertility
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