A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming, but modern medicine now allows young women and girls to preserve their dreams of motherhood. Fertility Preservation (Oncofertility) is the process of saving eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue before starting treatments like chemotherapy or radiation.

The Impact of Chemo and Radiation

Ovarian follicles are highly sensitive to DNA-damaging agents. Depending on the dose and type of treatment, anticancer therapies can lead to:

• Premature Ovarian Failure: Early onset of menopause.
• Reduced Follicle Reserve: A significantly shortened reproductive lifespan.
• Hormonal Shift: Markers like AMH and AFC may drop to premenopausal levels following treatment.

Why Ovarian Cortex Freezing?

For many young patients—including prepubertal girls or those who cannot delay chemotherapy for the 2 weeks required for egg retrieval—Ovarian Tissue Freezing is the only viable option. This technique protects the primordial follicles, which are hardier and less affected by radiation than mature eggs.

[Image: Illustration of Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation]

The Procedure Steps:

Restoring Fertility After Remission

Once a patient is in remission and ready to conceive, the tissue can be auto-transplanted back into the body. Modern studies show an encouraging pregnancy rate of 23% to 37% following transplantation. Emergent techniques like In-Vitro Maturation (IVM) are also expanding options for future family building.

Timing is Vital

Fertility preservation must be discussed before the first dose of chemotherapy. If you are feeling stressed or confused about your options, specialized counseling at Talwar Fertility can provide the clarity you need during this difficult time.

Finding out you have an ovarian cyst can be overwhelming, especially when you hear terms like “germ cell tumor.” However, Dermoid Cysts (Mature Cystic Teratomas) are the most common type of ovarian germ cell neoplasm, accounting for 20% of all ovarian cases—and the good news is, they are almost always benign.

What Exactly is a Dermoid Cyst?

Dermoid cysts are fascinating from a biological perspective. They are composed of tissues derived from different germ cell layers. This means a single cyst can contain tissues like:

• Hair and skin cells
• Teeth or bone fragments
• Sebaceous (oily) secretions
• Thyroid or nervous tissue

Most dermoid cysts are “silent,” meaning they cause no pain and are detected incidentally during a routine ultrasound at our Gurugram clinic. However, larger cysts can cause symptoms through compression of the bladder or bowels, and in severe cases, they may lead to ovarian torsion (twisting) or rupture.

Characteristic Ultrasound Signs

Dermoid cysts have very specific sonographic markers that help us differentiate them from simple or cancerous cysts. If you see these terms on your report, here is what they mean:

When is Surgery Necessary?

Management depends entirely on the size and symptoms. At Talwar Fertility & Child Health Centre, we follow a evidence-based protocol:

• Under 4 cm: These can often be monitored with regular ultrasound scans if they are asymptomatic.
• Over 4 cm: Surgical removal (cystectomy) is generally recommended. Larger cysts carry a high risk of torsion, which can cut off blood supply to the ovary and result in the loss of the organ.

We prioritize laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery to remove the cyst while preserving as much healthy ovarian tissue as possible, which is vital for your future fertility.