Impact of Chemotherapy on Ovarian Reserve and Ovary Protection

ZHOU Lin-yan; ZHANG Qing-xue

Abstract：Ovarian reserve refers to the quantity and quality of fertilizable oocytes derived from the remaining follicles in ovarian cortex, which is an indicator of female reproductive ability. Actually, ovarian reserve depends on the size of follicle pool in ovarian cortex. Follicles develop in the ongoing process of folliculogenesis and follicular growth, development, maturity, apoptosis, atresia and depletion. Folliculogenesis in ovary starts from fetus and lasts throughout the whole reproductive years. With the reduced production of folliculogenesis, the quality of oocytes is subsequently compromised. The decreased folliculogenesis and oocytes quality result in the lowered fertility, which is known as the diminished ovarian reserve. It was recently reported that chemotherapy as an iatrogenic factor could lead to the decreased ovarian reserve and even premature ovarian failure (POF) by disrupting the primordial follicle pool. This review summarized the recent progress on the impact of chemotherapy on the primordial follicles, as well as the ovarian protection from chemotherapy.