Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychosocial benefits of fertility preservation for young cancer patients

  • Fertility Preservation
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The risk of ovarian failure after radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is a concern among oncologic women. There is no doubt regarding the psycho-emotional benefits of fertility preservation (FP) after a cancer diagnosis because concerns about biological conception are a source of anxiety and can even affect the patient’s cancer recovery. The aim of this study was to evaluate oncology patients’ feelings, concerns, and life quality impacts related to FP.

Methods

This qualitative cross-sectional study was based on a questionnaire administered to a selected group of women diagnosed with cancer who underwent FP. Thirty-four eligible women (23–39 years old) completed this questionnaire.

Results

Two of the participants already had a child, and most of them (61.8%) stated a desire to have children at the time of FP. Their feelings primarily involved safety (44.1%) and hope (23.5%). Time and/or financial issues (82.4%) were the main challenge for FP. All of the women noted the importance of FP, with many stating that it is warranted to allow the possibility of a biological pregnancy due to the risk of infertility. Finally, questions about the impact on their lives if they had not undergone FP indicated emotional impairment, low quality of life, relationship problems, and uncertainty about maternity.

Conclusions

FP for oncology patients is a positive strategy. The women in this study felt that FP was a worthwhile process and that the security of having undergone FP brought them peace during oncological treatment and contributed to their quality of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bastings L, Baysal Ö, Beerendonk CCM, IntHout J, Traas MAF, Verhaak CM, et al. Deciding about fertility preservation after specialist counselling. Hum Reprod. 2014a;29:1721–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bastings L, Baysal, Beerendonk CCM, Braat DDM, Nelen WLDM. Referral for fertility preservation counselling in female cancer patients. Hum Reprod. 2014b;29:2228–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Gabinete do Ministro. Portaria n° 874, de 16 de maio de 2013. Institui a Política Nacional para a Prevenção e Controle do Câncer na Rede de Atenção à Saúde das Pessoas com Doenças Crônicas no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS).; Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2013.

  4. Carvalho BR. Oncofertility: foundations for bioethical reflection. Reprodução & Climatério. 2015;30:132–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Carvalho BR, Rodrigues JK, Campos JR, Marinho RM, Caetano JPJ, Silva ACJSR. An overview of female fertility preservation after cancer. Reproduçao & Climatério. 2015;29:123–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Chehin MB, Bonetti TC, Serafini PC, Motta ELA. Knowledge regarding fertility preservation in cancer patients: a population-based survey among Brazilian people during the pink October awareness event. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2017;21:84–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Coccia PF, Pappo AS, Altman J. Adolescent and young adult oncology. J Natl Compr Cancer Netw. 2014;12:21–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Deshpande NA, Braun IM, Meyer FL. Impact of fertility preservation counseling and treatment on psychological outcomes among women with cancer: a systematic review. Cancer. 2015;121:3938–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Goossens J, Delbaere I, Beeckman D, Verhaeghe S, Van Hecke A. Communication difficulties and the experience of loneliness in patients with cancer dealing with fertility issues: a qualitative study. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2015;42:34–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Johnson JA, Tough S. Society of obstetricians and gynecologists of Canada, delayed child-bearing. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2012;34:80–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kim SY, Kim SK, Lee JR, Woodruff TK. Toward precision medicine for preserving fertility in cancer patients: existing and emerging fertility preservation options for women. J Gynecol Oncol. 2016;27

  12. Lambertini M, Del Mastro L, Pescio MC, Andersen CY, Azim HA, Peccatori FA, et al. Cancer and fertility preservation: international recommendations from an expert meeting. BMC Med. 2016;14:1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee SJ, Schover LR, Patridge AH, Patrizio P, Wallace WH, Hagerty K. American society of clinical oncology recommendations on fertility preservation in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24:2917–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Loren AW, Mangu PB, Beck LN, Brennan L, Magdalinski AJ, Partridge AH, et al. Fertility preservation for patients with cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:2500–10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Partridge AH, Gelber S, Peppercorn J, Sampson E, Knudsen K, Laufer M, et al. Web-based survey of fertility issues in young women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22:4174–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Preaubert L, Pibarot M, Courbiere B. Can we improve referrals for fertility preservation? Evolution of practices after the creation of a fertility network. Future Oncol. 2016;12(19):2175–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Samrsla M, Nunes JC, Kalume C, Cunha ACR, Garrafa V. Bioethical study on the expectations of women awaiting assisted reproduction in a public hospital in the Federal District, Brazil. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2007;53:47–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A. Cancer statistics, 2013. CA Cancer J Clin. 2013;63:11–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Yee S, Abrol K, McDonald M, Tonelli M, Liu KE. Addressing oncofertility needs: views of female cancer patients in fertility preservation. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2012;30:331–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are very thankful to Huntington Medicina Reprodutiva for conducting the fertility preservation procedures and care for the cancer patients.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Huntington—Medicina Reprodutiva, Av Republica do Líbano, 529 Ibirapuera, São Paulo, 04501-000, Brazil

    Juliana Assi, Juliana Santos, Tatiana Bonetti, Paulo C. Serafini, Eduardo L. A. Motta & Mauricio Barbour Chehin

  2. Disciplina de Ginecologia Endocrinológica, Departamento de Ginecologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Rua Napoleão de Barros, 608 Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04024-002, Brazil

    Tatiana Bonetti, Eduardo L. A. Motta & Mauricio Barbour Chehin

  3. Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455 Cerqueira César, São Paulo, SP, 01246-903, Brazil

    Paulo C. Serafini

  4. Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA), Rua Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, 340, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 04829-300, Brasil

    Mauricio Barbour Chehin

Authors
  1. Juliana Assi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juliana Santos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tatiana Bonetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paulo C. Serafini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Eduardo L. A. Motta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Mauricio Barbour Chehin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mauricio Barbour Chehin.

Appendix

Appendix

Multiple-choice questions:

  1. 1.

    What was your marital status at the time of FP?

  2. 2.

    What is your marital status now?

  3. 3.

    Did you have children before FP?

  4. 4.

    What type of cancer were you treated for?

  5. 5.

    Did you have any type of cancer treatment before FP?

  6. 6.

    What is the current status of your cancer?

  7. 7.

    Who advised you regarding FP?

  8. 8.

    Did you want to have a child at the time of FP?

  9. 9.

    Do you want to have a child currently?

  10. 10.

    What was your feeling about FP at the time of the procedure?

  11. 11.

    Do you intend to use the cryopreserved material?

  12. 12.

    Do you consider it important to have FP?

  13. 13.

    What is your feeling about FP now?

  14. 14.

    What was your main difficulty regarding the decision to undergo FP?

  15. 15.

    What was your main difficulty regarding the FP procedure?

Open-ended questions:

  1. 1.

    If you answered YES to question 12, why do you think it was important to undergo FP?

  2. 2.

    If you had not undergone FP, would it have affected your life? For the open-ended questions, the answers were transcribed and evaluated qualitatively.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Assi, J., Santos, J., Bonetti, T. et al. Psychosocial benefits of fertility preservation for young cancer patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 601–606 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1131-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1131-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation