From fresh heterologous oocyte donation to autologous oocyte banking

In reproductive medicine, oocyte donation is the treatment of last resort. It helps to overcome subfertility due to poor egg quality, often due to the age related fertility decline. The general trend to delay motherhood has resulted in a continuous rise in the number of oocyte donation cycles worldwide. Oocyte donation appears to result in good pregnancy outcomes. This thesis also demonstrates a reassuring reproductive health in women that previously donated oocytes. In recent years, efficient oocyte cryopreservation has become a reality through the vitrification technique. This scientific progress resulted in the establishment of the eggbank as an integral part of fertility centres. This thesis describes the validation of an aseptic oocyte vitrification device that has been applied in an egg donation program as well as other clinical applications of eggbanking. Finally, oocyte cryopreservation is studied as a method to overcome future age related fertility decline. Autologous oocyte banking has become a preventive measure, circumventing the later need for heterologous oocyte donation.