Top IVF clinic discovers way to preserve female fertility
HOT flushes could be a thing of the past and pregnancy later in life a reality for Australian women after a Melbourne clinic successfully preserved a mature woman's fertility.
Monash IVF is trialling an ovarian tissue transplant technique where a sample is taken, frozen and implanted later in life.
While the trial is currently only offered to women with serious medical conditions that can impact their chances of falling pregnant, the treatment could eventually give women the ability to preserve their fertility indefinitely.
Monash IVF Director Gab Kovacs announced this week a 43-year-old cancer patient had become the 20th woman in the world to fall pregnant after having ovarian tissue removed and then implanted years later.
The procedure, which took place earlier this year, prompted the body to naturally ovulate and the woman is now six weeks pregnant.
Mr Kovacs told the Herald the breakthrough opened the potential for cancer patients to preserve their fertility and for women to dodge the onset of menopause.
He said the idea of using the treatment simply for "social reasons" did not sit well with him but could have a place in preventing diseases linked to menopause like osteoporosis.
The procedure is cheaper than freezing eggs and IVF and can be performed by most gynaecologists.
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