An alternative method for preservation of female fertility for cancer patients is oocyte cryopreservation. To date, most results of oocyte cryopreservation have been obtained from ovarian stimulation protocols for IVF. Ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins may not be suitable for many women who need to preserve their fertility, especially patients with breast cancer, other hormone-dependent cancers, or those who require immediate chemotherapy. Therefore, an innovative strategy could be the use of immature oocyte retrieval and in vitro maturation (IVM) from unstimulated ovaries followed by cryopreservation of in vitro matured oocytes.
Objectives
- To determine the mechanism(s) underlying the cryobiology regulation of oocytes and to establish an efficient and safe method of oocyte cryopreservation for young women afflicted with cancers and facing loss of fertility.
- To improve the survival and pregnancy rates of in vitro matured oocytes following vitrification.
- To assess whether the survival rate of in vitro matured oocytes after vitrification is correlated with female reproductive age.
Principal Investigator: Ri-Cheng Chian, MSc PhD profile Tel 514-934-1934 x 36101