To Assess or Not to Assess: Reconsidering Day 3 Embryo Quality in Planned Freeze-All Blastocyst Cycles.

Day 3 embryo quality is a predictor of in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates in cleavage-stage embryo transfer. However, the association between day 3 embryo quality and clinical outcomes in blastocyst transfer policy is largely unknown. This retrospective study included 1074 frozen-thawed single day 5/6 blastocyst transfers between January 2019 and December 2022.

Fertility Preservation as an Option for Women with Genetic Disorders: Insights from a SWOT Analysis on Elective Oocyte Freezing and Preimplantation Genetic Testing.

This paper uses a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to overview the option of fertility preservation in women with genetic diseases, who would later use preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders, in order to not transmit their condition. Strengths associated with elective oocyte freezing are ethical considerations, overall maternal and fetal safety, and effectiveness, if performed at <35 years of age. Weaknesses are related to costs and rare but present (<1-3%) risks of maternal complications.

Basal lamina characterization in frozen-thawed and long-term grafted human prepubertal ovarian tissue.

Research Question: Are there differences in the composition and structure of the basal lamina surrounding follicles in prepubertal versus adult human ovarian tissue?

Design: Frozen-thawed human ovarian tissue from six prepubertal and seven adult patients was divided into three fragments in each case: two for non-grafted tissue evaluation and one for long-term xenografting to mice. Collagen IV and laminin expression were investigated by immunohistochemistry before and after grafting. The basal lamina was analysed by transmission electron microscopy on frozen-thawed tissue.

Is Ovarian Tissue Transplantation Safe in Patients with Central Nervous System Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors?

The risk of reseeding malignancy harbored in cryopreserved and transplanted ovarian tissue has been a source of concern. This study aimed to determine the potential relationship between frozen-thawed ovarian tissue transplantation and primary cancer recurrence. Three patients with cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) were included in this study.

Can frozen-thawed human ovary withstand refreezing-rethawing in the form of cortical strips?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate whether ovarian tissue is able to withstand a double freezing-thawing procedure.

Methods: Human ovarian cortical biopsies from 4 thawed whole ovaries were divided into 4 experimental subgroups: (a) frozen-thawed non-grafted group, (b) frozen-thawed xenografted group, (c) refrozen-rethawed non-grafted group, and (d) refrozen-rethawed xenografted group. Xenografting was performed using 8 severe combined immunodeficient mice for a total duration of 21 days.

Follicle populations and vascularization in ovarian tissue of pediatric patients before and after long-term grafting.

Objective: To characterize ovarian tissue from pediatric patients by evaluating development and vascularization in follicle populations and comparing it with adult tissue after xenografting.

Design: Prospective experimental study.

Setting: Academic research center.

Role of the PI3K and Hippo pathways in follicle activation after grafting of human ovarian tissue.

Purpose: Our aim was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in follicle activation of the ovarian reserve after human ovarian tissue transplantation, with specific focus on the role of the effectors of the PI3K (mTOR and FOXO1) and Hippo (YAP) signaling pathways and whether they are somehow altered.

Methods: Frozen-thawed ovarian tissue was collected from six women (age 25-35 years) undergoing surgery for non-ovarian pathologies and divided into 4 fragments in each case: one for non-grafted controls and three for grafting to immunodeficient mice for 3, 7 and 21 days. The tissue was processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence at different timepoints before and after grafting.

Does the Akt pathway play a role in follicle activation after grafting of human ovarian tissue?

Research Question: The aim was to elucidate the delay in and mechanisms of follicle activation after ovarian tissue transplantation, with particular emphasis on the role of the Akt signalling pathway.

Design: Ovarian tissue was collected from six patients and divided into four fragments in each case: one for control purposes and three for grafting to immunodeficient mice for 3, 7 and 21 days. Follicle density, classification, growth and atresia, and the Akt pathway were analysed.

Risk of transplanting malignant cells in cryopreserved ovarian tissue.

Improvements in cancer treatments have increased the chances of survival of young cancer patients, but have given rise to other issues, like premature ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Preservation and subsequent restoration of ovarian function in these patients is now possible thanks to ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation. However, safety concerns about the possible presence of cancerous cells in the tissue to be cryopreserved must be addressed.

Safety of ovarian tissue transplantation in patients with borderline ovarian tumors.

Study Question: Is transplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) a safe procedure?

Summary Answer: BOT cells were found in frozen-thawed and xenografted ovarian tissue in 1 of 11 BOT patients.

What Is Known Already: The risk of reintroducing malignant cells upon ovarian tissue transplantation has been subject of debate for many years. Reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from leukemia patients is unsafe, while results from studies of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from other forms of cancer, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma, are reassuring.

Timing should no longer be an obstacle to oocyte cryopreservation in patients with cancer.

Purpose: Anticancer treatment-related infertility is preventable with oocyte cryopreservation, but this is often not considered a relevant issue, due to lack of knowledge and time. The aim of this study is to prove that adequate organization of an Oncofertility Unit and the use of new protocols for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) can reduce the time required by the procedure, encouraging consultants and patients to preserve fertility before gonadotoxic treatments.

Methods: A total of 125 patients diagnosed with malignant tumors were referred to the Oncofertility Unit of San Raffaele Hospital: 52 patients between April 2011 and October 2013 and 73 patients between October 2013 and November 2015.