Robotics in reproduction, fertility preservation, and ovarian transplantation

Abstract

Robotic technology is one of the most promising and rapidly developing advancements of the twenty-first century with a potential to make significant contributions to reproductive surgery and preservation of fertility. Along with the major advances in cancer therapy, the number of female cancer survivors of reproductive age has dramatically increased. As a consequence, fertility preservation has gained more emphasis in reproductive science in the last few decades. A broad range of surgical procedures such as tubal reanastomosis, ovarian transposition, radical trachelectomy, and ovarian transplantation has been introduced to restore or preserve fertility in selected patients. These procedures can be accomplished through various surgical routes, including open surgery and minimally invasive approaches. In this review, we aim to present the current applications, advantages, and disadvantages of robotic technology in the field of reproductive surgery with a special interest in ovarian transplantation for fertility preservation.