TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences of Female Childhood Cancer Patients and Survivors Regarding Information and Counselling on Gonadotoxicity Risk and Fertility Preservation at Diagnosis
T2 - A Systematic Review
AU - Clasen, Nikita H Z
AU - van der Perk, M E Madeleine
AU - Neggers, Sebastian J C M M
AU - Bos, Annelies M E
AU - van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Marry M
N1 - Funding Information:
M.E.M. van der Perk is supported by funding from the Princess Máxima Center Foundation, Twinning in Research and Education to Improve Survival in Childhood Solid Tumors in Lithuania (TREL) (funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme H2020-EU.4.b) and Stichting Kinderoncologisch Centrum Rotterdam (sKOCR).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer patients and their families are increasingly offered oncofertility care including information regarding their risk of gonadal damage by paediatric oncologists, fertility counselling by fertility specialists and fertility preservation options. However, experiences regarding oncofertility care are underreported. We aimed to summarize the available evidence of experiences of female childhood cancer patients and survivors regarding oncofertility care.METHODS: Manuscripts were systematically identified using the PubMed and Embase database. From, respectively, 1256 and 3857 manuscripts, 7 articles were included and assessed, including risk of bias assessment. Outcome measures included data describing experiences of female childhood cancer patients and survivors, regarding fertility information, counselling and/or preservation.RESULTS: Female patients and survivors are variably satisfied with fertility information, report challenges in communication with healthcare professionals and prefer to receive general information at diagnosis and detailed fertility information later. Regrets after fertility counselling are underreported, but are associated with refusing fertility preservation. Lastly, regardless of counselling, female patients and survivors report fertility concerns about their future children's health and effect on relationships.CONCLUSION: Currently, the satisfaction with oncofertility care varies and female patients or survivors report regrets and concerns regardless of receiving fertility information or counselling. These results may help to improve the content of fertility information, communication skills of healthcare professionals and timing of counselling.
AB - BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer patients and their families are increasingly offered oncofertility care including information regarding their risk of gonadal damage by paediatric oncologists, fertility counselling by fertility specialists and fertility preservation options. However, experiences regarding oncofertility care are underreported. We aimed to summarize the available evidence of experiences of female childhood cancer patients and survivors regarding oncofertility care.METHODS: Manuscripts were systematically identified using the PubMed and Embase database. From, respectively, 1256 and 3857 manuscripts, 7 articles were included and assessed, including risk of bias assessment. Outcome measures included data describing experiences of female childhood cancer patients and survivors, regarding fertility information, counselling and/or preservation.RESULTS: Female patients and survivors are variably satisfied with fertility information, report challenges in communication with healthcare professionals and prefer to receive general information at diagnosis and detailed fertility information later. Regrets after fertility counselling are underreported, but are associated with refusing fertility preservation. Lastly, regardless of counselling, female patients and survivors report fertility concerns about their future children's health and effect on relationships.CONCLUSION: Currently, the satisfaction with oncofertility care varies and female patients or survivors report regrets and concerns regardless of receiving fertility information or counselling. These results may help to improve the content of fertility information, communication skills of healthcare professionals and timing of counselling.
KW - childhood cancer
KW - counselling
KW - experience
KW - female
KW - gonadal damage
KW - infertility
KW - ovarian insufficiency
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85152470546
U2 - 10.3390/cancers15071946
DO - 10.3390/cancers15071946
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37046607
SN - 2072-6694
VL - 15
JO - Cancers
JF - Cancers
IS - 7
M1 - 1946
ER -