World's first pregnancy from ovarian tissue grafted in the anterior abdominal wall

Our sister clinic Melbourne IVF and the Royal Women’s Hospital (the Women’s) have announced the world’s first pregnancy from ovarian tissue grafted in the anterior abdominal wall of a Victorian woman this afternoon at the FSA Conference.
 
The world leading fertility preservation medical and scientific research team, is led by Associate Professor Kate Stern, Head of Fertility Preservation.
 
Vali, who previously had both of her ovaries removed as part of her treatment for cancer, is 26 weeks into her pregnancy and expecting twins. This is the first time an on-going pregnancy has been achieved from ovarian transplanted tissue on the abdominal wall (a heterotopic graft site) -  unequivocal evidence that cryopreservation, or freezing of the ovarian tissue, preserves follicle development and that normal ovarian function and pregnancy can occur at a non-ovarian site.
 
“Our success means renewed optimism for women who are facing ovarian surgery or radiotherapy to treat cancer. We now plan to introduce a new program for retrieval and transport of ovarian tissue from other centres for cryopreservation and storage in our centre allowing patients being treated outside the major centres to have the optimal opportunity for cryopreservation of their precious ovarian tissue.” Said Kate Stern.
 
The team’s paper has been accepted by Human Reproduction for publication.
 
Congratulations to the entire Research Team responsible for this groundbreaking development:

• Associate Professor Kate Stern, Head of the Fertility Preservation Service at Melbourne IVF (MIVF) and the Women’s, Head of Clinical Research at MIVF and Head of the Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, the Women’s;
• Dr Lyndon Hale, Head of Reproductive Surgery at the Women’s and Medical Director at MIVF;
• Associate Professor John McBain, Head of Reproductive Services, the Women’s and Senior Fertility Specialist at MIVF;
• Dr Debra Gook, lead scientist of the oocyte and ovarian tissue cryopreservation program at the Women’s and MIVF;
• Dr Franca Agresta, Clinical Research Manager, the Women’s and MIVF;
• Dr Manuela Toledo, senior fertility specialist MIVF;
• Dr Jacqueline Oldham and Dr Amanda Sampson, gynaecology ultrasound specialists;
• Associate Professor Tom Jobling, gynaecological oncologist; and
  Dr Petra Wale, Ms Stacey Gwilim and Ms Nicole Merry, senior scientists and laboratory managers, MIVF.
• Special acknowledgement to Professor Claus Yding Andersen, Head of the Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, University Riks Hospital, Copenhagen, and Professor Dror Meirow, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
   
  * Human Reproduction – Full Title: First Reported Clinical Pregnancy Following Heterotopic Grafting of Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue in a Woman after a Bilateral Oophorectomy. (doi:10.1093/humrep/det360

To find out about Queensland Fertility Group's Fertility Preservation Programme click here
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