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To study the indications of oocyte vitrification in women who undergo this intervention. Cross-sectional study. We collected the indications of oocyte vitrification in women who underwent, or started ovarian stimulation for, this intervention between May 2006 and December 31st 2013. Indications were subcategorized into six groups: no sperm available during IVF or ICSI treatment, planned gonadotoxic therapy, ovarian surgery, risk on premature ovarian insufficiency , previous gonadotoxic therapy, and anticipated gamete exhaustion. During the study period 298 women vitrified oocytes or started with ovarian stimulation for oocyte vitrification. The majority of the women (33%) vitrified oocytes because of anticipated gamete exhaustion. Planned gonadotoxic treatment was for 81 women (27%) the reason for oocyte vitrification. With oocyte vitrification women are able to extend the time at which they can conceive. The future will tell whether the benefits of oocyte vitrification outweigh the risks and costs

Cryopreservation of spermatozoa and embryos has been a standard procedure in Dutch fertility laboratories for several decades. Until recently, oocyte cryopreservation was rarely performed because of the low chance of survival. 'Vitrification' is a promising new technique for the freezing of oocytes. This ultra-quick freezing method can be used when no spermatozoa, or no viable spermatozoa, could be obtained during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and for patients with cancer who have to undergo potentially damaging oncology treatment. The Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam has performed oocyte vitrification for 20 patients in the period March 2006 - October 2009. Ten of these patients have undergone ICSI treatment; this resulted in three pregnancies and the birth of two healthy babies from two of these pregnancies

The purpose of our study was to establish the value of a laparoscopic electrocautery strategy compared with ovulation induction with rFSH (recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone) in women with clomiphene citrate (CC) resistant polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with clinical effectiveness, safety, quality of life, expenses and preference of the women as outcome measures. The randomised study took place in 29 Dutch hospitals between February 1998 and October 2001 in 168 women with CC-resistant PCOS. Eighty-three of these women were randomised to an electrocautery strategy consisting of laparoscopic electrocoagulation of the ovaria, followed by CC and rFSH with persistent anovulation and 85 women were randomised to ovulation induction with rFSH. The primary outcome measure of the study was the attainment of an ongoing pregnancy within 12 months. Electrocoagulation strategy and ovulation induction with rFSH were similar with respect to the chance of an on-going pregnancy and the costs for the treatment in 12 months' time. Moreover, there were hardly any differences between the two treatment groups in health-related quality of life and treatment preference. However, the electrocoagulation strategy resulted in significantly fewer multiple pregnancies and should therefore be the treatment of choice.