A Holistic Approach To Oncofertility In A Patient With Rectal Cancer: A Case Report

• Published in: JBRA assisted reproduction 2023, Vol.27 (3), p.579-581
• Main Authors: Saçıntı, Koray Görkem, Predut, Elena-Narcisa, Şükür, Yavuz Emre, Atabekoğlu, Cem Somer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Cancer therapies; Case Report; Case reports; Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Cryopreservation; Cryopreservation - methods; Drug dosages; Embryos; Female; Fertility; Fertility Preservation - methods; Follicles; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Oocytes - physiology; Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome; Ovaries; Patients; Pregnancy; Radiation therapy; Rectal Neoplasms - complications; Rectal Neoplasms - surgery; Reproductive health; Semen; Sperm; Success; Womens health
• ISSN: 1518-0557; 1517-5693; 1518-0557
• DOI: 10.5935/1518-0557.20220073

Cryopreservation techniques are used to preserve fertility before cancer treatment with gonadotoxic agents. Herein, we report a case of fertility preservation involving a 29-year-old G0P0 woman, married for one year, who was referred to our hospital for fertility preservation before starting rectal cancer treatment. Ovarian tissue and embryo cryopreservation were performed. Before the procedure, ovarian reserve was evaluated, and antral follicle counts were determined. Laparoscopic ovarian tissue cryopreservation was performed from the left side with a lower antral follicle count. Thus, we were able to keep the number of oocytes obtained in the following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle at the highest level. Subsequently, the right ovary was transposed into the lateral wall of the abdomen under the peritoneum. Conventionally controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was initiated on the first postoperative day, depending on the menstrual cycle phase. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on four mature oocytes obtained, and one embryo was cryopreserved. Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation was initiated on the first postoperative day, and the process was repeated on the seventh postoperative day, yielding a total of seven viable embryos for cryopreservation. There is usually only one chance of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in patients requiring a fertility-sparing approach due to malignancy. In the combined technique, performing ovarian tissue resection from the ovary with a lower number of antral follicles can keep the number of oocytes at the highest level in the following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle.