Oncologists’ practice and attitudes regarding fertility preservation in female cancer patients: a pilot study in the Netherlands

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess oncologists’ practice and attitudes regarding treatment-related infertility and fertility preservation in female cancer patients of reproductive age.

Participants and methods: Recruitment letters with a 7-item questionnaire were sent to 454 oncologists.

Results: Two hundred and six of the 454 physicians (45%) responded and 96 questionnaires were used for analysis. The sample included 28 (29%) gynaecologists, 22 (23%) medical oncologists, 19 (20%) surgeons, 16 (17%) radiotherapists and 11 (12%) haematologists. Sixty-two percent of the physicians took action to protect ovarian function before or during gonadotoxic therapy. The most important reason for not offering fertility preservation was “factors concerning the disease”. About one-third of the oncologists did not discuss fertility issues. Nearly half of the physicians (43%) would offer fertility preservation options, if they were standardized. High importance was given by almost all physicians (96%) to quality of life in general after gonadotoxic therapy and to the provision of information about fertility preservation options (81%). However, when asked about the importance of infertility after a malignancy, a smaller majority of the physicians (59%) gave it high importance.

Conclusion: Most physicians considered infertility to be a major issue to be discussed, and most intended to take action to protect ovarian function before or during gonadotoxic therapy.

• Cancer
• chemotherapy
• cryopreservation
• fertility
• fertility preservation
• oncology
• quality of life
• radiotherapy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all participating physicians for their efforts.

Current knowledge on the subject

• Little is known about oncologists’ practice and attitudes regarding treatment-related infertility and fertility preservation.

• Quality of life is influenced by better survival after cancer treatment and possible negative side-effects on fertility after cancer treatment.

What this study adds

• Infertility is a major issue to be discussed with cancer patients in relation to their cancer treatment.

• Physicians are willing to discuss fertility preservation options, but are not taking action to facilitate a dialogue with their patients.