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FRIDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) -- Ovarian grafts -- frozen ovarian tissue that is thawed and transplanted back into a woman's body -- can help cancer survivors preserve their fertility, according to a small, new study.
Researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center found that the grafts can produce hormones for more than seven years, a much longer lifespan than expected.
The study, led by Dr. Samuel Kim, associate professor in the reproductive endocrinology division of the department of obstetrics and gynecology, examined five cancer survivors who had rapidly thawed ovarian tissue transplanted back into their abdomens, a procedure known as heterotopic ovarian transplantation.
The levels and function of the reproductive hormones in the women were measured by monthly blood tests and ultrasounds.
The researchers found that four of the women needed a second transplantation within two years. Following the second transplant, however, ovarian function was restored faster and lasted longer -- from nine months up to seven years.
"Re-establishment of long-term endocrine function after ovarian transplantation will benefit young cancer survivors with premature ovarian failure," Kim concluded.
The study was recently published online in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about ovarian cancer.
SOURCE: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, news release, June 28, 2012.
Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
jsayler
Thu Sep 06, 2012 05:30 AM
One must always wonder who will be the decider of who gets treatment and who doesn't. Who decides who is young? It is very scary that treatments may be withheld from certain patients otherwise deemed healthy and (maybe) allowed to only those who can pay big fees.
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