Fertility sparing surgery for female cancer patients complementing cryotechniques

At present there are various strategies to protect fertility potential against the possibly harmful effects of cancer therapy. Options range from newly emerging pharmacological treatments (e.g. ovarian suppression, apoptotic inhibitors) to cryopreservation techniques (e.g. embryo, oocyte, ovarian tissue). Surgical interventions for cancer treatment may directly or indirectly harm future fertility potential. New developments in the surgery for tumours are affording different approaches to fertility-sparing options and these surgical approaches can be employed successfully in a large number of situations. This review investigates surgical treatments and its effect on future fertility for pre-malignant disease and cancer of the cervix, uterus and ovary as well as how it can compliment or replace the commonly used fertility preserving cryotechniques.