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Fertility and parenthood issues in young female cancer patients—a systematic review

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Abstract

Purpose

For young women who were diagnosed with cancer prior to having children, reproductive potential might affect the quality of life (QoL). This systematic review looks at fertility issues in young female cancer patients, focusing on their influence on psychological well-being, specific fertility-related interventions and reproductive decisions.

Methods

Thirteen medical and social science databases were searched for relevant articles up to December 2012, according to PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-six articles meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the review, along with 5 additional papers that missed the inclusion criteria narrowly. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the studies.

Results

Depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) seemed to be related to the perceptions of reproductive issues rather than to the fertility status based on the type of treatment received. Fertility-related interventions improved patients’ QoL, decisional regret, and decisional conflict. Finally, cancer influenced women’s reproductive decisions. Pursuing pregnancy was affected mainly by worries about child’s and mother’s health. Decisions about treatment were influenced by the wish to preserve fertility. The generalisability of these results might be undermined by small sample sizes and homogeneity of participants within and across the studies. Inferences about causality of associations are problematic due to predominantly cross-sectional design.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

The existing literature gives preliminary insight into the importance of fertility for young women diagnosed with cancer. However, more research is needed in order to offer patients comprehensive care.

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Funding

Aleksandra Sobota’s PhD is funded by the Danuta Richardson Medical Scholarship. This systematic review has not received any additional funding.

Conflict of interest

Aleksandra Sobota and Gozde Ozakinci declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

No animal or human studies were carried out by the authors for this article.

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  1. School of Medicine, Biological and Medical Sciences Building, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9TF, Scotland, UK

    Aleksandra Sobota & Gozde Ozakinci

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  1. Aleksandra Sobota
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Correspondence to Aleksandra Sobota.

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Sobota, A., Ozakinci, G. Fertility and parenthood issues in young female cancer patients—a systematic review. J Cancer Surviv 8, 707–721 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0388-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-014-0388-9

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