Infertility induced by cancer treatment: inappropriate or no information provided to majority of French survivors of cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patients who reported treatment-induced infertility 2 years after cancer diagnosis and to highlight what factors are related to the patients' lack of information on this topic before starting therapy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study by telephone interview.


METHODS
Representative French national sample of survivors 2 years after cancer diagnosis.


METHODS
282 women (<45 years) and 1137 men (<71 years).


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Self-reported treatment-induced infertility, and what information was provided on this issue before starting treatment, including information on systematic sperm cryopreservation.


RESULTS
Among the participants, 104 women (37%) and 346 men (30%) reported having treatment-induced infertility. Among them, 31 women (30%) and 45 men (13%) reported that they had not been informed about the risk of infertility before they started treatment. Logistic regressions showed that a lack of information was associated with older age and treatment without hormone therapy among women and older age, cancers other than prostate, and a lack of participation in treatment decision-making among men.


CONCLUSIONS
Information about infertility risks and preservation methods should be provided more systematically to all treated patients, irrespective of their age.
Epidemiology and Social Sciences Unit, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, INSERM, UMR379, Marseille, France.
Julien
J
Mancini
Dominique
D
Rey
Marie
M
Préau
Laëtitia
L
Malavolti
Jean-Paul
JP
Moatti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012662:Semen Preservation; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents