Losing the ability to have children would for many be the ultimate tragedy in a young person's battle with cancer. So here's some promising news: A transplant of ovarian tissue between sisters has shown to be successful, and the eggs have even been fertilized, though complications have caused a loss of the potential the pregnancies. The transplantation of ovarian tissue between Teresa Alvaro and her sister, Sandra, is promising though the sisters were fortunate to share the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA), meaning that they wouldn't reject tissue from the other's body. Teresa lost ovarian function due to treatment of a blood disorder when she was 20, and preferred transplantation of ovarian tissue to donation of eggs, because she felt it was more natural.
