Women in Abu Dhabi can now delay menopause by up to 10 years and significantly extend their reproductive years through a medical procedure doctors say is being offered for the first time in the region.
Doctors at Danat Al Emarat Hospital are using cryopreservation, a technique that involves the freezing and storing of ovarian tissue over a time period of the patient's choosing, which can then be transplanted back years later. Once returned, this tissue functions as it did at the time of harvesting, meaning a 50-year-old woman could have ovaries as young as 25.
The tissue is collected through keyhole surgery, before it is sliced into tiny sections and frozen. When a woman reaches menopause, the tissue can be thawed and reimplanted, allowing her ovaries to start producing hormones and releasing eggs once again.
The concept is not a new one; it has been used for years to help young women undergoing chemotherapy preserve their fertility and have children after cancer treatment. However, its use as a means to delay menopause is a more recent development.
“The indications for ovarian tissue cryopreservation have expanded beyond cancer patients. It is now an option for women who want to freeze their biological clock and protect their future fertility,” Dr Summia Zaher, chief executive and medical director of Danat Al Emarat, part of Abu Dhabi health tech company, M42, told The National.
“This includes women with a history of premature ovarian failure, who are at risk of early menopause, as well as those who simply wish to delay menopause and avoid hormone replacement therapy (HRT).”
How cryopreservation can improve quality of life
Menopause typically occurs around the age of 51, marking the end of a woman's reproductive years. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, which can significantly impact quality of life. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has long been the primary treatment for managing menopausal symptoms, ovarian tissue preservation offers a natural alternative by restoring the body's own hormone production.
“With women now living much longer, many spend 30 to 40 years in menopause,” Dr Zaher said. “Currently, the primary treatment for managing menopause-related symptoms is HRT, which uses artificial hormones to address the significant health risks associated with menopause, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and urinary incontinence. However, by preserving a woman’s natural hormone production through ovarian tissue cryopreservation, it may be possible to delay menopause and its associated complications.”
Dr Zaher said it is “ideal” for women to have the treatment before the age of 35. “The younger the better because it freezes your biological clock at that point that was made. So the earlier you do it, the better,” she said.
After the ovarian tissue is reimplanted, the woman will experience the natural hormonal cycle of the age she was when the tissue was frozen. This means she will resume menstruation and eventually go through menopause at a later stage, following a more gradual and natural transition.
“This is truly a phenomenon of the modern age. In many ways, we are experiencing the consequences of our own success – medical advancements have extended life expectancy well beyond what it once was,” Dr Zaher said. “Women who previously lived into their 50s or 60s are now reaching their 80s and 90s, spending a significant portion of their lives without the protective effects of oestrogen. This poses major health challenges, as oestrogen plays a crucial role in preventing conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.”
Dr Zaher said cryopreservation offers a safer and more long-term option than HRT. “Simply relying on artificial HRT is not a sufficient long-term solution, as it carries its own risks,” she explained. “Instead, we must continue to innovate and explore new ways to support women’s health as they age.”
What is the procedure?
The procedure itself takes a few minutes, Dr Zaher said. It requires keyhole surgery done under general anaesthetic as a day case, so patients can go home the same day.
The first step is the surgical removal of a small portion of one of the ovaries which can be done opportunistically when you are undergoing another procedure such as a laparoscopy, or C-section,” Dr Zaher explained. “This small amount of tissue is then processed in a specialised, high-tech facility to make tiny strips of only a few millimetres.” Once reimplanted years later, most women gain full hormone production within four to six months, Dr Zaher added.
Danat Al Emarat will perform the procedure on two women in the coming months. The procedure is not covered by insurance, and there is no requirement for the patient to be married. The hospital did not disclose the cost of the procedure.
Divided opinion
Providing menopause solutions offer specialised preventive care and education, ensuring every woman's well-being is a priority, said Dr Neha Gami, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the HealthPlus Family Centre in Al Bandar, Abu Dhabi.
“Women make up 50 per cent of the global population, but tend to neglect their own health needs, especially when it comes to menopause,” Dr Gami said. “Empowering women starts with addressing their unique needs. Offering a variety of approaches and options enables women to make informed decisions. Moreover, our clinic signifies a broader recognition of menopause which helps to destigmatise and encourage open conversation.”
While experts agree that cryopreservation does offer health benefits, there is still much debate about its long-term effectiveness and the ethics behind it.
“Restoring ovarian function naturally might provide an alternative to HRT, possibly reducing health risks like increased chances of blood clots or breast cancer, Dr Ruhil Badiani, a family physician at Cornerstone Clinic, said. “This could also improve cognitive function, sexual health, and overall well-being in later years.”
“However, despite the possible benefits, there are concerns regarding the long-term viability and ethical implications of such procedures,” she added. “Cryopreservation is still an experimental technique and its effectiveness and safety remains uncertain. The process of freezing and thawing biological tissue presents risks, including potential damage to the cells and reduced functionality once reimplanted. Unlike egg freezing, which is widely accepted, ovarian tissue transplantation is still a developing field with unpredictable outcomes.”
It is also unclear whether delaying menopause could have unintended consequences in the long-term. “It is associated with increased risks of hormone-sensitive cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer,” Dr Badiani added. “The body's natural decline in hormone production is not arbitrary; it may serve as a protective mechanism. Artificially extending hormonal activity could expose women to unknown long-term effects.
“Menopause is a natural stage of life. It is not a disease. It is not an illness any more than ageing is an illness,” she added. “While scientific advancements offer new possibilities, they also require careful consideration.”
