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.
Mancini
Julien
J
Epidemiology and Social Sciences Unit, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, INSERM, UMR379, Marseille, France.
Rey
Dominique
D
Préau
Marie
M
Malavolti
Laëtitia
L
Moatti
Jean-Paul
JP
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