Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients: A Current Challenge

Fertility preservation in female cancer patients has become a central topic in clinical practice, given the increased survival rates and improved quality of life among these patients.Oncological treatments, particularly chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have gonadotoxic potential, leading to decreased ovarian reserve and, in severe cases, premature ovarian failure.Various strategies have been developed and refined, including oocyte cryopreservation, embryo vitrification, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, the use of GnRH analogues during treatment and ovarian tissue transplantation.The choice of the most appropriate technique depends on the patient's age, cancer type, urgency of cancer treatment and the availability of a partner for in vitro fertilization.Studies show that transplanted ovarian tissue can survive in over 60% of cases and that pregnancy rates exceed 30% in some specialized centers.Fertility preservation should be routinely discussed with reproductive-aged patients through a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, reproductive endocrinologists and psychologists.It is concluded that structured institutional programs, supported by evidence-based protocols, are essential to offer safe and effective options, minimizing the impact of oncological treatments on reproductive capacity and promoting long-term reproductive autonomy.