Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation Techniques
Summary
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation involves the surgical retrieval of cortical ovarian slices prior to gonadotoxic therapy, which are then frozen using controlled-rate slow freezing or ultra-rapid vitrification. Following thawing, tissue is reimplanted orthotopically on the residual ovarian medulla or heterotopically at alternative sites, with the dual aims of restoring endocrine function and preserving fertility. Recent improvements in protocol standardisation and cryoprotectant formulations have minimised ice-crystal formation and follicle loss, while adjunctive strategies such as nanoscale modulators, pro-angiogenic scaffolds and targeted antioxidant approaches seek to enhance graft survival. A comprehensive synthesis of individual patient data confirms that autologous transplantation reliably rescues ovarian hormone production—evidenced by normalisation of follicle-stimulating hormone and oestrogen levels—and yields live birth rates approaching 30%, with graft function sustained for a median of two to three years. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is now established as a pivotal option for girls and young women facing premature ovarian insufficiency due to cancer treatment or benign gynaecological surgery, and ongoing research is refining safety, efficacy and long-term outcomes.
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Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation Techniques publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation techniques across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cryoprotection: Use of chemical agents to prevent ice-crystal damage during freezing.
Vitrification: Ultra-rapid freezing technique that solidifies tissue into a glass-like state.
Slow freezing: Controlled-rate cooling method that gradually lowers temperature to minimise cellular stress.
Orthotopic transplantation: Reimplantation of tissue at its original anatomical location.
Angiogenesis: Formation of new blood vessels essential for graft survival.
References
- De novo design of a nanoregulator for the dynamic restoration of ovarian tissue in cryopreservation and transplantation. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
- Melatonin and endothelial cell-loaded alginate-fibrin hydrogel promoted angiogenesis in rat cryopreserved/thawed ovaries transplanted to the heterotopic sites. Journal of Biological Engineering (2023).
- Adverse effects of ovarian cryopreservation and auto-transplantation on ovarian grafts and quality of produced oocytes in a mouse model. Clinical Science (2023).
- Fresh and cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation for preserving reproductive and endocrine function: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. Human Reproduction Update (2022).
- Comparison between Slow Freezing and Vitrification for Human Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Xenotransplantation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
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