Save eggs for childbirth after cancer treatment

On July 7, German researchers published a new reproductive technique to help women newly diagnosed with cancer preserve eggs and fertility before the start of chemotherapy.

Currently, many women collect and send their eggs in hopes of giving birth, in case of infertility after cancer treatment.

But if the diagnosis of cancer is concluded at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, many women cannot delay their chemotherapy and egg preservation.

Michael Von Wolf, a researcher at the University of Heidelberg (Germany), told the European Association of Embryology and Reproduction about a new technique that could help all keep eggs before treating cancer.

Von Wolf said, 'Depending on when a woman receives a diagnosis of cancer (stage of the menstrual cycle), they will take between 2 and 6 weeks to start stimulating the ovaries and collecting keep eggs. Two weeks is a waiting period for some patients before starting cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy. But from 3 to 6 weeks is quite a short time. '

Breast cancer cells.
(Photo: Alternative-cancer.net)

In the study of 40 women, the researchers wanted to find out if they could stop the menstrual cycle during the inflammatory route and stimulate the follicles of women as if they were in the early stages of the cycle. period

The inflammatory route is part of the menstrual cycle, beginning after the day of ovulation and lasts until the next period.

Researchers have asked these women to use a drug called GnRH-antagonist. This drug inhibits, blocks hormonal production during inflammatory routes and then controls follicle stimulating hormone.

"For a long time, experts in the field of reproduction have only produced one type of follicular stimulus at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, but gynecologists can control them later if see the need, " said Von Wolf.

The doctor added, "It is not a new drug, because this technique is almost anyone can do. This technique stimulates the ovaries for about 12 days and produces 10 eggs, instead of only 10 days and 13 eggs for women who take the medicine early in the menstrual cycle. In both groups, the percentage of eggs achieved is feasible. "

Women in some developed countries like Germany, Australia and Switzerland today have access to this technology and Mr. Von Wolf hopes many other countries have access to this new technology.