Oocyte Cryopreservation for Fertility Preservation in Postpubertal Female Children at Risk for Premature Ovarian Failure Due to Accelerated Follicle Loss in Turner Syndrome or Cancer Treatments

Objective: To preliminarily study the feasibility of oocyte cryopreservation in postpubertal girls aged between 13 and 15 years who were at risk for premature ovarian failure due to the accelerated follicle loss associated with Turner syndrome or cancer treatments. Design: Retrospective cohort and review of literature. Setting: Academic fertility preservation unit. Participants: Three girls diagnosed with Turner syndrome, 1 girl diagnosed with germ-cell tumor. and 1 girl diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. Interventions: Assessment of ovarian reserve, ovarian stimulation, oocyte retrieval, in vitro maturation, and mature oocyte cryopreservation. Main Outcome Measure: Response to ovarian-stimulation, number of mature oocytes cryopreserved and complications, if any. Results: Mean anti-mfillerian hormone, baseline follical stimulating hormone, estradiol, and antral follicle counts were 1.30 +/- 0.39, 6.08 +/- 2.63, 41.39 +/- 24.68, 8.0 +/- 3.2; respectively. In Turner girls the ovarian reserve assessment indicated already diminished ovarian reserve. Ovarian stimulation and oocyte cryopreservation was successfully performed in all female children referred for fertility preservation. A range of 4-11 mature oocytes (mean 8.1 +/- 3.4) was cryopreserved without any complications. All girls tolerated the procedure well. Conclusions: Oocyte cryopreservation is a feasible technique in selected female children at risk for premature ovarian failure. Further studies would be beneficial to test the success of oocyte cryopreservation in young girls.