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NICE has been notified about this procedure and it is part of its work programme. The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) will consider this procedure and NICE will issue an interventional procedures consultation document about its safety and efficacy for 4 weeks’ public consultation. IPAC will then review the consultation document in the light of comments received and produce a final interventional procedures document, which will be considered by NICE before guidance is issued to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
 
Status In progress
Technology type Procedure
Decision Selected
Process IP
ID number 1804
Description Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has previously been used in patients who are at risk of a premature menopause and infertility from chemotherapy for cancer treatment. This procedure uses the same technology and surgical approach with the aim of delaying the menopause in otherwise healthy women. The removal of ovarian tissue for preservation is performed before the menopause (ideal age between 20 and 30 years). Initially, reproductive hormones levels and ovarian reserve of the woman are assessed. If these are adequate, laparoscopic surgery is performed under general anaesthesia to remove a third to half of the outer cortex of an ovary. The retrieved ovarian tissue is then prepared as thin slices for cryopreservation, and stored in a storage facility for future use. When the woman enters the menopause, the ovarian tissue is thawed and regrafted under the skin in a heterotopic site (e.g. the forearm or axilla) with the aim of it restoring normal ovarian endocrine function. The transplantation process is reversible and repeatable. The aim is to delay the menopause and its associated symptoms and effects.

Provisional Schedule

Expected publication 21 September 2022

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Timeline

Key events during the development of the guidance:

Date Update
24 March 2022 - 25 April 2022 Interventional procedure consultation

For further information on how we develop interventional procedures guidance, please see our IP manual