Cryopreservation of reproductive tissue – the possibility of preserving fertility (A review)

Abstract

© 2020, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. In the modern world, there is an increasing trend when healthy women postpone pregnancy and childbirth for social reasons. It is reliably known that with increasing age, the possibility of spontaneous conception is sharply reduced. We should not forget about premature ovarian failure, which in 10% of cases has a «dumb» picture. For women, the implementation of the reproductive function is one of the most important tasks in life. Premature ovarian failure is considered by each woman as a personal tragedy, combining not only the impossibility of conception, but also the corresponding endocrine disorders. The concept of «fertility preservation» first appeared in oncology, where, to improved methods of diagnosis and treatment, the long-term survival of young patients with malignant tumors of various localities has improved. However, treatment can lead to premature exhaustion and ovarian failure. The possibilities of modern assisted reproductive technologies have increased significantly with the introduction into practice of one of the important and promising methods of preserving fertility — cryopreservation of reproductive tissue with its subsequent transplantation. Initially, it was proposed to preserve fertility in cancer patients who were to undergo gonadotoxic therapy, however, it was later used in patients with premature ovarian failure of various origins. Abroad, this method has been used for over 20 years, a large network of cryobanks has been created. In this review, we present data on the modern possibilities of using the method of cryopreservation of reproductive tissue with its subsequent transplantation in order to restore fertility in case of premature ovarian failure of various origins. The review also presents the experience of cryobanks of reproductive tissue in Israel, USA, England — one of the largest in the world. Special attention is paid to the issues of ovarian tissue allotransplantation, which, according to studies, can help patients with autoimmune diseases, Turner syndrome, and genetic forms of premature ovarian failure.