Reproductive functions in female patients treated with adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for localized osteosarcoma of the extremity.
BACKGROUND
The side effects of chemotherapy on ovarian and reproductive functions in female patients who received adjuvant and/or neoadjuvant treatment for localized osteosarcoma of the extremities at our institution in the last 21 years (1974-1995) were assessed.


METHODS
Ninety-two patients with a mean actual age of 26 (14-51) were interviewed. They had been followed 3 to 16 years after treatment (mean: 9.6 yrs). Twenty-four of them had received chemotherapy before puberty and 68 after puberty.


RESULTS
Amenorrhea during chemotherapy occurred in 69% of postpuberal patients but only in 2 patients aged 39 and 43, respectively, was permanent. After the end of treatment, the patients' menstrual activity started again, and only a slight number of cases showed increases of menstrual irregularities. Twenty-two patients married after treatment; 20 patients started a pregnancy at a mean age of 27. Of these 20 patients, 3 had voluntary abortions and 17 succeeded. At the time of article submission, three were pregnant, 14 had 19 full term pregnancies, and no birth defects nor congenital anomalies were registered in their 19 full term newborns.


CONCLUSIONS
In this group of female patients, chemotherapy seemed to alter neither their reproductive function nor the health of their newborns.
Longhi
A
A
Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology-Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli-Bologna, Italy. alessandra.longhi@ior.it
Porcu
E
E
Petracchi
S
S
Versari
M
M
Conticini
L
L
Bacci
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011627:Puberty; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*