Frozen ovarian tissue reimplanted after chemotherapy at Semmelweis

A 24-year-old patient suffering from acute lymphoid leukaemia who underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy became the first in Hungary to have her own ovarian tissue, frozen for three years, transplanted back into her body by doctors at Semmelweis University, so that she could have a child in the future.

Three years ago, 24-year-old Dalma was diagnosed with a malignant, cancerous disease of the blood system, acute lymphoid leukaemia, for which she received chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation and radiotherapy, said Dr. Attila Bokor, Associate Professor. The Head of Minimally Invasive Surgery Unit at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University stressed that before the therapy was started, one of the patient’s ovaries was removed and frozen so that its tissue fragments could be transplanted back later.

As the patient has been asymptomatic for three years, but has no hormone production and the ovary left in her system is not functioning, three ovarian tissues were transplanted back into her body on 13 December using a laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure to restore fertility. The ovarian cortical tissue fragments were attached to the surface of the ovary that was no longer functioning.

The surgical procedure, the first of its kind in Hungary, was performed by Dr. Attila Bokor and Dr. László Piros, Deputy Director of the Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology.

The patient is doing well and is recovering at home.