China has achieved a breakthrough in helping women who have lost ovarian function due to cancer treatments and bone marrow transplants to preserve their fertility. Using ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation (OTC and OTT) technologies, 26 women in China have successfully regained their ovarian function, with some of them becoming pregnant and giving birth. The success rate in China, despite starting the development of this technology 17 years later than other countries, is higher than the international average of 70 percent.
Dr. Ruan Xiangyan, director of endocrinology at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, established China’s first ovarian tissue cryopreservation bank in 2012 and completed the country’s first cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation in 2016. The hospital has also achieved another milestone by completing the cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for over 550 children and young patients, with the youngest being just seven months old. These technologies are particularly important for prepubertal girls who cannot undergo ovulation induction and egg or embryo freezing.
The process of cryopreservation involves minimal laparoscopic surgery, and the cost for patients is approximately CNY 80 (USD 11) per month. The cryopreserved ovarian tissue can remain viable for decades and be used in multiple transplants. This significant advancement in fertility preservation provides hope for women facing the potential loss of ovarian function due to cancer treatments or bone marrow transplants.
