Overview of fertility preservation Abstract
Jeffrey KH IP1, Pak-Yiu LIAO1, Jacqueline PW CHUNG2
1 Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
Preserving fertility from damage by medical conditions or their treatments is increasingly popular. With the extended progression-free survival among young cancer survivors, oncofertility is an important subfield about preserving gonadal function and fertility among oncological patients. In this review, we discuss the gonadotoxicity of various anti-cancer treatments including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We describe the current fertility preservation strategies including fertility-sparing surgery, radiation techniques, gonadal transposition, and assisted reproductive technology. We also discuss future trends including gonadal tissue cryopreservation and the current situation in Hong Kong. This review aims to promote the awareness, knowledge, and utilisation of fertility preservation so that more patients can benefit from it.
1 Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
Preserving fertility from damage by medical conditions or their treatments is increasingly popular. With the extended progression-free survival among young cancer survivors, oncofertility is an important subfield about preserving gonadal function and fertility among oncological patients. In this review, we discuss the gonadotoxicity of various anti-cancer treatments including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We describe the current fertility preservation strategies including fertility-sparing surgery, radiation techniques, gonadal transposition, and assisted reproductive technology. We also discuss future trends including gonadal tissue cryopreservation and the current situation in Hong Kong. This review aims to promote the awareness, knowledge, and utilisation of fertility preservation so that more patients can benefit from it.
Hong Kong J Gynaecol Obstet Midwifery 2021; 21(2):95–104
