SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, announced that SEHA’s Corniche Fertility Centre successfully completed a fertility preservation programme for a 30-year-old patient diagnosed with recurrent ovarian cancer, ensuring her future family plans were protected without postponing urgently required chemotherapy.
Following diagnosis of a recurrent juvenile granulosa cell tumour of the ovary, and given the potential impact of chemotherapy on fertility, the oncology team initiated an urgent referral to SEHA’s Corniche Fertility Centre to explore preservation options before treatment commenced.
The initial consultation took place within one week of referral, and ovarian stimulation began the following day. As the patient was married, embryo cryopreservation was recommended as the most appropriate strategy to safeguard her future reproductive potential.
Egg retrieval was successfully performed from the remaining ovary. After fertilisation, five embryos developed and were safely cryopreserved for potential future use.
Crucially, the entire fertility preservation process was completed within the required clinical window, allowing chemotherapy to begin as scheduled without delay.
Dr. Arianna D’Angelo, consultant Physician at SEHA’s Corniche Fertility Centre, said: “A cancer diagnosis understandably shifts immediate focus to life-saving treatment. However, concerns about future fertility are equally significant for many patients. Early referral and close coordination between oncology and reproductive medicine teams allow us to provide effective fertility preservation without compromising cancer care timelines.”
She added: “In this case, rapid action and integrated planning ensured the patient could proceed with chemotherapy while preserving future family-building options.”
Fertility preservation for cancer patients may include egg, sperm, or embryo cryopreservation depending on clinical circumstances. Early discussion at the time of diagnosis is essential to enable informed decision-making before chemotherapy or radiotherapy begins.
This case underscores how coordinated oncology and reproductive care within SEHA supports both immediate life-saving treatment and long-term family planning goals.
