Fertility preservation program before ovarotoxic oncostatic treatments: role of the psychological support in managing emotional aspects

Abstract

Fertility preservation programs (FPPs) based on oocyte or ovarian tissue cryostorage may be offered to women facing oncostatic treatments at risk of precocious ovarian insufficiency. The way in which FPPs are presented to patients affects their decision to join them. We studied herein 48 young women to whom a FPP was proposed, aiming at clarifying the emotional aspects involved. A psychologist attended the consultations in which the FPP was offered to patients; at the end of the talk, a questionnaire was administered and a semi-structured interview was carried out. Finally, the STAI test was administered to measure trait (TAI) and state (SAI) anxiety, both immediately after consultation, and later on, when patients returned home. We observed that the possibility to join a FPP implied important emotional aspects, and that the presence of a psychologist was helpful to integrate technical information and emotions as well as to reduce trait and state anxiety levels. Our study suggests that the presence of a psychologist during the meeting in which a FPP is offered improves communication between doctors and patients, and helps these women to get a full awareness before choosing to join the FPP.

Chinese abstract

生殖力保护项目(FPPs)是基于为面临制瘤治疗存在卵巢功能早衰风险的患者

提供卵母细胞或卵巢组织冻存。在此，我们对48位建议进行FPP的妇女进行研究，目的是明确情绪方面的关联性。一位心理学家参加了建议进行FPP的患者们的会诊咨询，在谈话最后，进行一个调查问卷和一个半结构的会谈。最后，STAI 测试测量显著性(TAI)及焦虑状态(SAI)，这2项都是会诊结束后立即进行，和后来患者返家后。我们观察到参加FPP的可能性隐含重要的情绪因素，心里学家的参与有助于技术信息与情绪的结合降低焦虑的显著性及程度水平。我们的研究提示在FPP会诊中，心理专家的参与可改善医患交流，帮助这些妇女在选择FPP前充分知情。

• Female cancer
• fertility preservation
• iatrogenic infertility
• oocyte cryostorage
• ovarian tissue cryostorage
• psycho-oncology
• STAI test