Investigational Oocyte Cryopreservation for Medical and Non Medical Indications

This is a prospective study to assess the long term benefits and outcomes of the existing oocyte cryopreservation methods for fertility preservation in women with a potential medical or non medical risk of loss of fertility. Women wishing to preserve their oocytes using cryopreservation will be informed of the risk and limitations of the procedures involved in ovarian hyperstimulation, oocyte recovery, cryopreservation and subsequent viability after warming. Women who consent to the procedure will undergo standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and oocyte retrieval procedures currently in use for IVF. Following harvest all eggs obtained will be evaluated for degree of fragmentation and maturation status. The oocytes will be cryopreserved using kits of media and devices currently approved for use in the vitrification of fertilized eggs and embryos, and the cryopreserved oocytes will be stored for future patient use in a long term storage facility in Minnesota (Reprotech Ltd.). Patients with stored oocytes will be contacted annually to determine the outcome of any oocyte warming procedures (oocyte thawing, fertilization and embryo transfer). We will obtain a structured fertility focused quality of life questionnaire (FertiQol) and survey to assess one year after harvest the impact of the process. We will compare medical (cancer) patients to those patients undergoing oocyte cryopreservation for non-medical reasons