Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41068325›Full record

SynthesisCancer causes & control : CCC2025

Fertility preservation in rare ovarian malignancies: a decade-spanning systematic review of menstrual and reproductive outcomes.

Eirini Zerdeva, Grigorios Karampas, Nikolaos Petrogiannis, Chrysoula Rozalia Athanasiadou, Athina Diamanti, Angeliki Bolou, Artemisia Kokkinari, Kleanthi Gourounti, Antigoni Sarantaki

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Cancer causes & control : CCC, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Eirini ZerdevaMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Grigorios KarampasSecond Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, "Aretaieio" University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Nikolaos PetrogiannisART Unit, Athens Naval Hospital, 70 Dinokratous Str, 11570, Athens, Greece.
Chrysoula Rozalia AthanasiadouMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Athina DiamantiMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Angeliki BolouMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Artemisia KokkinariMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Kleanthi GourountiMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece.
Antigoni SarantakiMidwifery Department, Faculty of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Egaleo, 12243, Athens, Greece. esarantaki@uniwa.gr.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFertility preservation is a growing priority in the management of young women with rare ovarian tumors, including malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs), sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs), and borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). These malignancies often affect adolescents and women of reproductive age and are frequently treated with fertility-sparing surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. Our objective is to systematically evaluate reproductive outcomes, menstrual function recovery, and fertility preservation strategies in female survivors of rare cancers such as MOGCTs, SCSTs, and BOTs.

methodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and BioMed Central were searched for studies published between 2005 and 2025. Eligible studies included observational or cohort designs reporting on fertility status, menstrual recovery, and reproductive outcomes following treatment for rare tumors. A total of 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction included fertility preservation approaches, rates of natural versus assisted conception, menstrual function outcomes, and the incidence of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

resultsFertility-sparing surgery with or without chemotherapy was the most applied fertility preservation strategy. Spontaneous conception was predominant, with pregnancy rates ranging from 50% to over 90%. Menstrual recovery occurred in 71-100% of patients. POI was rare in solid tumor survivors but occurred in up to 87% of leukemia patients. Long-term follow-up showed durable ovarian function and no increase in cancer recurrence. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) and oocyte retrieval were effective in selected high-risk cases.

conclusionFertility preservation in patients with rare ovarian malignancies is both safe and effective. Early fertility counseling and individualized, risk-adapted strategies should be integrated into standard cancer care, especially for patients at high risk for gonadal failure.

Indexed as

Fertility PreservationOvarian NeoplasmsFemaleHumansFertility preservationMalignant ovarian germ cell tumorPremature ovarian insufficiencyRare tumorsSex cord-stromal tumorSpontaneous conception

Identifiers

PMID41068325

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.