Overview of Ovarian Transplant

The SingHealth Ovarian Transplant Program consists of a dedicated, multidisciplinary team of experts pioneering advancements in fertility preservation. Their mission is to restore reproductive potential and endocrine function, offering renewed hope to women facing fertility-compromising medical treatments or conditions.

Function of Ovarian Tissue

The ovaries are vital to a woman’s overall health and reproductive life, serving two primary functions:

Hormonal Function

Ovarian tissue produces essential hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These regulate the menstrual cycle, maintain bone density, support cardiovascular health, and contribute to emotional and physical well-being.

Reproductive Function

The ovaries house and mature oocytes (eggs). During the reproductive years, they support the development and release of a mature egg each month for potential fertilization.

Understanding When a Transplant is Needed

An ovarian tissue transplant is primarily indicated for women who have previously undergone Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation (OTC) to preserve their fertility before undergoing treatments that induce premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or early menopause.

Key reasons include:

Cancer Treatments: Gonadotoxic therapies such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation that can destroy the ovarian reserve.
Benign Conditions: Severe, recurrent conditions (like advanced endometriosis) or necessary surgical removals (oophorectomy) that compromise healthy ovarian tissue.
Bone Marrow Transplant Preparation: High-dose chemotherapy required for hematological disorders.

The Goal

Re-transplanting stored healthy ovarian tissue can restore natural hormone production and provide the opportunity for conception, either spontaneously or through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

How to Get a Transplant

The transplant process is structured and closely guided by our team:

Referral & Consultation
Patients who have previously cryopreserved their ovarian tissue with us will meet with a clinical team member to assess readiness for transplantation.
Multidisciplinary Review
Doctors and embryologists review stored tissue data, hormonal profiles, and overall health to determine optimal timing for the procedure.
Coordination
Nurse Coordinators guide patients through pre-operative tests, scheduling, and documentation.
Surgical Procedure
Frozen tissue is thawed in the laboratory and laparoscopically grafted onto the ovary (orthotopic) or nearby pelvic site.