Double ovarian stimulation (DuoStim) protocol for fertility preservation in female oncology patients

AbstractThis article describes a revised ovarian stimulation protocol (DuoStim) for fertility preservation in female oncology patients which aims to maximise the number of gametes obtained with subsequent improvement in cumulative birth rate, without delaying cancer treatment. Ten patients diagnosed with malignancy between September 2014 and October 2015 were included. The patients were treated with the DuoStim protocol, undergoing two consecutive ovarian stimulation cycles and two oocyte retrievals. The primary outcome was the number of oocytes collected and vitrified during each oocyte retrieval and in total. The protocol was evaluated regarding medical risk and patients’ feedback. During the first oocyte collection 81 oocytes (61 metaphase II) were retrieved (mean = 8.1; range = 1–13) and during the second oocyte collection 82 oocytes (67 metaphase II) were retrieved (mean= 8.2; range = 1–19). A total of 163 oocytes (128 metaphase II) were collected (mean = 16.3; range = 6–32) and cancer treatment was ...