PhD defence Maria Elena Butalid

Keywords: Fertility preservation, Breast cancer, Success rates, Counselling
 

"Fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients"

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in fertile women. There is often a risk on infertility due to the treatment of breast cancer. This is why women often have the option to freeze their oocytes or embryos for later use. This treatment is also called: fertility preservation. This PhD thesis investigated different aspects that need to be addressed when counselling women for this treatment. Research showed that most women had ovarian function recovery after the cancer treatment. About a quarter of the women returned to use their frozen oocytes or embryos. Of these, 35% had a live birth. The thesis also investigated the motives women have to return for embryo transfer after cancer treatment and ethical aspects related to this treatment.

Click here for the full dissertation.

Click here for the live stream.