Advancing human ovarian biology in tandem with clinical care: considerations for collecting ovarian tissue for research after oophorectomy for tissue cryopreservation

Increased access to OTC has enabled the collection, with patient consent, of research tissue samples from healthy premenopausal patients. These samples are a critical resource to advance our understanding of fundamental ovarian biology. When choosing a preservation method for the tissue collected for research purposes, it is important to define what outcomes are desired from tissue analysis. If tissue is preserved in certain ways the types of analyses available will be limited. This review details various processing methods that can be undertaken in the operating room, or after transportation, and examples of experimental approaches that are applicable to ovarian tissue research.