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Fertility Counseling and Preservation in Breast Cancer

  • Breast Cancer Genetics (B Arun, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Breast Cancer Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Young women represent a minority of breast cancer patients for which fertility, family planning, and pregnancy represent unique vulnerabilities. This review intends to discuss recent published evidence regarding treatment-related infertility, fertility counseling, and preservation.

Recent Findings

Fertility concerns are common among young women with breast cancer and may negatively affect treatment decisions. Data is available to aid providers in approximating odds of post-treatment amenorrhea and infertility. Multiple fertility preservation techniques are available. While embryo preservation is most commonly used, recent guidelines endorse oocyte preservation and support for ovarian tissue cryopreservation is increasing. Most recently, the contribution of ovarian suppression during chemotherapy to ovarian function preservation has been established. Germline BRCA mutations may impact fertility potential and challenge fertility preservation and preimplantation genetic testing should be discussed with this subset.

Summary

Fertility counseling and preservation have become an integral part of the multidisciplinary care for breast cancer at diagnosis and throughout survivorship. Efforts to further individualize recommendations are necessary.

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Acknowledgements

Dr. Sella is a Goldfarb Advanced Fellow in Breast Oncology at DFCI and is also supported by The American Physicians Fellowship for Medicine in Israel and the Pinchas Burstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.

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  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Tal Sella & Ann H. Partridge

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Correspondence to Ann H. Partridge.

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Tal Sella reports personal fees from Roche outside the submitted work. Ann H. Partridge declares no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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Sella, T., Partridge, A.H. Fertility Counseling and Preservation in Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 12, 1–12 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-019-00348-w

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