National oncofertility registries around the globe: a pilot survey.

Purpose: Oncofertility is an emerging discipline which aims to preserve fertility of young cancer patients. As fertility preservation services have become increasingly available to cancer patients in many countries around the globe, it is crucial to establish a foundation of collaborative reporting to continuously monitor and assess oncofertility practices. This survey study investigates the current global landscape of official national oncofertility registries, a vital tool which allows for surveillance of the field. Methods: An online pilot survey was conducted to give the opportunity to report official national oncofertility registries available in 2022. Survey questions covered the availability of official national registries for oncofertility as well as the official national registries for cancer and assisted reproductive technologies. Participation in the survey was voluntary, anonymous and for free. Results: According to our online pilot survey, responses were collected from 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Kenya, Philippines, Romania, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, UK, USA & Uruguay. Only 3 out of the 20 surveyed countries have well-established official national oncofertility registries; and include Australia, Germany & Japan. The Australian official national oncofertility registry is part of Australasian Oncofertility Registry that also includes New Zealand. The German official national oncofertility registry is part of FertiPROTEKT Network Registry for German speaking countries that also includes Austria & Switzerland. The Japanese official national oncofertility registry includes Japan only and called Japan Oncofertility Registry (JOFR). A supplementary internet search confirmed the aforementioned results. Therefore, the final list of countries around the globe that have official national oncofertility registries includes Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Some other countries such as the USA and Denmark are on their way to establish official national registries for oncofertility care. Conclusion: Although oncofertility services are expanding globally, very few countries have well-established official national oncofertility registries. By reviewing such a global landscape, we highlight the urgent need for having a well-established official national oncofertility registry in each country to monitor oncofertility services in a way that best serves patients.

Disorders of Sex Development and Malignant Germ Cell Tumors.

A woman, aged 44 years, presented at the general oncology outpatient clinic with bloating, abdominal pain, and significant unintended weight loss. Her past medical history included a bilateral inguinal hernia surgical repair at age 6, and primary amenorrhea since age 15. The patient never underwent additional studies to identify the cause of the primary amenorrhea.

Building Oncofertility Core Competency in Developing Countries: Experience From Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Peru, and Panama.

Purpose: Little is known about oncofertility practice in developing countries that usually suffer from a shortage of health services, especially those related to cancer care. Materials and Methods: To learn more about oncofertility practice in developing countries, we generated a survey to explore the barriers and opportunities associated with oncofertility practice in five developing countries from Africa and Latin America within our Oncofertility Consortium Global Partners Network. Responses from Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Peru, and Panama were collected, reviewed, and discussed. Results: Common barriers were identified by each country, including financial barriers (lack of insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs for patients), lack of awareness among providers and patients, cultural and religious constraints, and lack of funding to help to support oncofertility programs. Conclusion: Despite barriers to care, many opportunities exist to grow the field of oncofertility in these five developing countries. It is important to continue to engage stakeholders in developing countries and use powerful networks in the United States and other developed countries to aid in the acceptance of oncofertility on a global level.

Barriers and Opportunities of Oncofertility Practice in Nine Developing Countries and the Emerging Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network.

PURPOSE: Oncofertility practice continues to grow in developing countries despite the lack of health care services, especially those related to cancer care. The purpose of this study is to further explore oncofertility practice in these countries and identify opportunities for field-wide coalescence. METHODS: We generated a survey to learn more about oncofertility practice in nine developing countries within our Oncofertility Consortium Global Partners Network-Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Nigeria, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and India. Their responses were collected, reviewed, and discussed. RESULTS: Surveyed centers from the nine developing countries continue to experience a similar set of common challenges, including a lack of awareness among providers and patients, cultural and religious constraints, lack of insurance coverage and funding to help to support oncofertility programs, and high out-of-pocket costs for patients. Despite these barriers, many opportunities exist and there is great potential for the future. CONCLUSION: The current need is to unify the new technologies and best practices that emerge from rural communities and developing countries with those in large metropolitan cities, both domestically (US based) and abroad, into a functional unit: the Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network. The Oncofertility Professional Engagement Network will bridge the gap between domestic and international programs to establish a strong global network in which members share resources, methodologies and experiences and further build cultural competency.

Building Oncofertility Core Competency in Developing Countries: Experience From Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Peru, and Panama.

PURPOSE: Little is known about oncofertility practice in developing countries that usually suffer from a shortage of health services, especially those related to cancer care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To learn more about oncofertility practice in developing countries, we generated a survey to explore the barriers and opportunities associated with oncofertility practice in five developing countries from Africa and Latin America within our Oncofertility Consortium Global Partners Network. Responses from Egypt, Tunisia, Brazil, Peru, and Panama were collected, reviewed, and discussed. RESULTS: Common barriers were identified by each country, including financial barriers (lack of insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs for patients), lack of awareness among providers and patients, cultural and religious constraints, and lack of funding to help to support oncofertility programs. CONCLUSION: Despite barriers to care, many opportunities exist to grow the field of oncofertility in these five developing countries. It is important to continue to engage stakeholders in developing countries and use powerful networks in the United States and other developed countries to aid in the acceptance of oncofertility on a global level.

Criopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation and bone restoration metabolism in castrated rats.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate estradiol levels and autotransplantation heated ovarian tissue effects, after vitrification, on rats bone metabolism previously oophorectomized bilaterally. METHODS: experimental study with 27 rats aged 11 to 12 weeks and weighing 200g to 300g, submitted to bilateral oophorectomy and ovarian tissue cryopreservation for subsequent reimplantation. Animals were divided into two groups, A and B, with 8 and 19 rats, respectively. Autotransplantation occurred in two periods according to castration time: after one week, in group A, and after one month in group B. Serum estradiol measurements and ovary and tibia histological analysis were performed before and after oophorectomy period (early or late) and one month after reimplantation. RESULTS: in groups A and B, tibia median cortical thickness was 0.463±0.14mm (mean±SD) at the baseline, 0.360±0.14mm after oophorectomy and 0.445±0.17mm one month after reimplantation p<0.005). Trabecular means were 0.050±0.08mm (mean±SD) at baseline, 0.022±0.08mm after oophorectomy and 0.049±0.032mm one month after replantation (p<0.005). There was no statistical difference in estradiol variation between the two study groups (p=0.819). CONCLUSION: cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation restored bone parameters, and these results suggest that ovarian reimplantation in women may have the same beneficial effects on bone metabolism.

Criopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation and bone restoration metabolism in castrated rats / Transplante de tecido ovariano criopreservado e restauração do metabolismo ósseo em ratas castradas

ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate estradiol levels and autotransplantation heated ovarian tissue effects, after vitrification, on rats bone metabolism previously oophorectomized bilaterally. Methods: experimental study with 27 rats aged 11 to 12 weeks and weighing 200g to 300g, submitted to bilateral oophorectomy and ovarian tissue cryopreservation for subsequent reimplantation. Animals were divided into two groups, A and B, with 8 and 19 rats, respectively. Autotransplantation occurred in two periods according to castration time: after one week, in group A, and after one month in group B. Serum estradiol measurements and ovary and tibia histological analysis were performed before and after oophorectomy period (early or late) and one month after reimplantation. Results: in groups A and B, tibia median cortical thickness was 0.463±0.14mm (mean±SD) at the baseline, 0.360±0.14mm after oophorectomy and 0.445±0.17mm one month after reimplantation p<0.005). Trabecular means were 0.050±0.08mm (mean±SD) at baseline, 0.022±0.08mm after oophorectomy and 0.049±0.032mm one month after replantation (p<0.005). There was no statistical difference in estradiol variation between the two study groups (p=0.819). Conclusion: cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation restored bone parameters, and these results suggest that ovarian reimplantation in women may have the same beneficial effects on bone metabolism.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar os níveis de estradiol e os efeitos do autotransplante de tecido ovariano aquecido, após vitrificação, no metabolismo ósseo de ratas previamente ooforectomizadas bilateralmente. Métodos: trabalho experimental com 27 ratas com idades entre 11 e 12 semanas e pesando 200g a 300g, submetidas à ooforectomia bilateral e criopreservação de tecido ovariano para posterior reimplante. Os animais foram divididos em dois grupos, A e B, com oito e 19 ratas, respectivamente. O autotransplante ocorreu em dois períodos de acordo com o tempo de castração: após uma semana, no grupo A, e após um mês no grupo B. Mensurações de estradiol sérico e análise histológica de ovário e tíbia foram feitos antes e após o período de ooforectomia (precoce ou tardio) e um mês após o reimplante. Resultados: nos grupos A e B, as espessuras corticais médias da tíbia foram 0,463±0,14mm (média±DP) na linha de base, 0,360±0,14mm após ooforectomia e 0,445±0,17mm em um mês após o reimplante (p<0,005). As médias trabeculares foram 0,050±0,08mm (média±DP) na linha de base, 0,022±0,08mm após ooforectomia e 0,049±0,032mm em um mês após o reimplante (p<0,005). Não houve diferença estatística entre a variação do estradiol entre os dois grupos de estudo (p=0,819). Conclusão: o transplante de tecido ovariano criopreservado restabeleceu os parâmetros ósseos, e estes resultados sugerem que a reimplantação ovariana em mulheres pode apresentar os mesmos efeitos benéficos sobre o metabolismo ósseo.