Freezing eggs to get ahead: a look at oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical reasons

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Published: Dec 18, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18192/uojm.v7i2.2201
Keywords:
Reproduction, Women’s Health, Fertility, Oocyte Cryopreservation, Oocyte Vitrification, Infertility, IVF

Main Article Content

Jenny Han Zhang
University of Ottawa Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI)

Abstract

The age of first pregnancies for women has been on the rise, partly due to prioritization of career development. Maternal aging is a significant factor affecting fertility, and is correlated with infertility and several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Oocyte cryopreservation (OC), currently recommended to cancer patients pending treatments affecting fertility, is now being explored as an option for extending female fertility due to its efficacy in in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, there is a paucity of data confirming the superiority of the procedure over natural pregnancy in healthy women, given the potential complications. Caution in recommending the procedure should therefore be taken. 

Résumé

L’âge des premières grossesses chez les femmes a augmenté, en partie à cause de la hiérarchisation du développement de carrière. Le vieillissement maternel est un facteur important affectant la fertilité, et est corrélé avec l’infertilité et plusieurs résultats défavorables de la grossesse. La cryoconservation des ovocytes (CO), recommandée aux patients cancéreux en attendant les traitements affectant la fertilité, est actuellement explorée comme une option pour augmenter la fertilité féminine en raison de son efficacité dans la fécondation in vitro (FIV). Cependant, il y a un manque de données confirmant la supériorité de la procédure sur la grossesse naturelle chez les femmes en bonne santé, étant donné les complications potentielles. La prudence dans la recommandation de la procédure devrait donc être prise. 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 7 No. 2 (2017): Women's Health
Section
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