| Abstract [eng] |
Introduction. Fertility preservation in prepubertal girls is a topic whose importance has been increasing in recent years. However, this field involves many challenges due to the unique complexity of girls at this age, both from a physiological and anatomical perspective and from a psychosocial perspective. The aim. To examine age-dependent differences related to fertility preservation, with reference to the biological background and key concepts such as ovarian reserve. In addition, the review includes an examination of the preservation methods currently available for prepubertal girls and an evaluation of their effectiveness, as well as an assessment of the complications, the effects associated with their implementation and the outcomes known to date. Alongside this, this work also addresses the clinical and ethical challenges accompanying the decision-making process to perform fertility preservation at a young age. Methods. The review is based on relevant literature from medical sources, mainly from recent decades, focusing on fertility preservation in prepubertal girls and including anatomical, physiological, clinical, technological and ethical aspects related to this topic. Discussion. The main findings indicate that despite the significant progress that has occurred in the field of fertility preservation, including fertility preservation for prepubertal girls, there are still significant gaps in research, especially in the areas of psychological effects and clinical outcomes. Moreover, there is still a lack of established global protocols and therefore, although there are promising medical technologies, they are not implemented widely or accepted worldwide. In addition, the ethical dilemmas, which include, among other things, the autonomy of the child versus parental consent, constitute a major challenge in the decision-making process regarding the performance of fertility preservation. Conclusion. Based on this review, it can be concluded that fertility preservation in prepubertal girls is an important and evolving field that requires further research. It should include the conduct of clinical trials focused on this population and the examination of long-term health outcomes for these children, including the physical, psychological and social effects of performing fertility preservation procedures at such a young age. In addition, this review emphasizes the important role of the medical team in accompanying the patient and her family during the decision-making process. |
