Women sterilized by chemotherapy may be mothers

2004/09/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Strong cancer treatments can lead to patient sterilization. Now, according to studies in Europe, women who want to become mothers after overcoming the disease have the opportunity to fulfill their desire.

Researchers have tried different paths. For example, in Italy they have worked with frozen eggs. In this country it is forbidden to freeze embryos, but not to extract and freeze eggs to women. Subsequently, the researchers have managed to thaw and fertilize these eggs in vitro. The implantation of fetuses in mother's centers has developed normally, which has allowed four women to have five children in a hospital in Milan.

Although the result has been encouraging, success has been low, as very few women who have participated in the research have had children. Therefore, other researchers, apart from eggs, have extracted and frozen the entire ovary to restore the ovary or some of its strips once cured women. Women find that they have had a rule since the first month of the transplant. Subsequently, they have tried to fertilize naturally and in vitro.

Women have not managed to get pregnant naturally, but with the in vitro technique. However, after implantation of the embryo in the uterus, it has not been able to develop. At least they have taken their first steps and, in addition, their menstrual character has helped emotionally women who have participated in the research.