Treatments for infertility have rapidly advanced in just the past ten years. Sometimes, though, reports about the scientific possibilities may sound more outlandish than credible. Here are a few of the experimental news-makers that could truly increase the fertility potential for some future patients:

In best case scenarios, the transplanted tissue eventually ovulates, giving the previously infertile woman a chance to conceive either naturally or with assisted reproduction techniques. First attempts at ovarian tissue transplant were with young cancer patients who had sections of their own ovaries frozen prior to sterility-causing cancer therapy. When the women were ready to try and conceive years later, the tissue was thawed and re-implanted. In some cases, babies have been the result. In 2005, the first donor- tissue baby in the U.S. was born after the mother, who went through menopause in her teens, received functioning ovarian tissue transplants from her identical twin sister.

As with any organ transplant, introducing a different human's tissue into another's body is risky. Special anti-rejection drugs are typically required, except in rare cases of genetic matching as with identical twins, to suspend the recipient's normally occurring immune mechanisms.

At this time, more research in this area is focusing on the needs of women with cancer, combining cryopreservation techniques and re-implanting the patient's own tissue after successful cancer treatment.

Oocyte Cryopreservation

The option to freeze eggs has become particularly helpful in the few countries that have made embryo freezing illegal. Here in the United States, at least one business has developed that markets its oocyte cryo services to young women who wish to focus first on their careers and later on possible motherhood. Ongoing debate exists among fertility experts about how the experimental option is presented to the general public.

Quite a few babies have been born around the world using different egg freezing techniques, but researchers still have a lot to learn. Egg cells are notoriously fragile, even though they are the largest cell in the human body. The freezing-thawing processes are constantly being fine-tuned by lab scientists. For now, as with tissue transplantation, cancer survivors are the more likely candidates for making use of current egg freezing technology.

One of the important differences between ovarian tissue transplant and egg freezing is regarding the use of fertility medications. In order to have enough eggs to freeze for future use, women using oocyte cryo services must take ovulation-inducing fertility medication. In some types of cancer, such drugs are contraindicated because they might actually encourage growth of the cancer cells. The hope is that eventually, women with cancer might have two very viable options -- whether tissue or egg freezing -- to help them become pregnant after their cancer is successfully treated.

More on the way

My staff and I are happy to answer your questions about these and other assisted reproductive techniques. Our focus, as always, will be on fertility treatment that is right for your individual situation.

Sincerely,

Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD