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Preservation of Fertility in the Cancer Patient

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Side Effects of Medical Cancer Therapy

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Abstract

Preservation of fertility is a key determinant of long-term quality of life of adolescents and young adults treated for curable forms of cancer. The risk of developing primary or secondary infertility after completion of their treatment is variable and difficult to predict. Moreover, evaluation of the extent and reversibility of gonadotoxicity of cancer therapies is currently imperfect, especially in young women.

The most established method of preserving fertility is sperm banking in men and embryo cryopreservation in young women who have a partner. However, many alternative, though still experimental, options are in development that can already be proposed to young patients in well-defined conditions.

Despite the progress and refinement of fertility preservation techniques and the increase in educational resources, an information gap between patients and healthcare teams still persists. As the new field of oncofertility goes forward, concerted efforts must be made to improve communication of information to patients by integrating these features in pretreatment discussion and in definition of therapeutic strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

    Duhem Caroline M.D. & Fernand Ries M.D.

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  1. Duhem Caroline M.D.
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  2. Fernand Ries M.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Hematology-Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Rue Barble 4, Luxembourg, 1210, Luxembourg

    Mario A. Dicato

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag London

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Caroline, D., Ries, F. (2013). Preservation of Fertility in the Cancer Patient. In: Dicato, M. (eds) Side Effects of Medical Cancer Therapy. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-787-7_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-787-7_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-786-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-787-7

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