title: Reproductive health assessment for women with cancer: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to pilot a survey instrument and to develop descriptive data about the reproductive goals of reproductive-aged women (15-44 years) with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional pilot survey study of 20 women who were diagnosed with various types of cancers at the oncology clinic of Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, from January-July 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 20 patients whose cases were surveyed, the mean age was 36.6 years, and 90% of the women had breast cancer. Ten percent of patients would continue pregnancy, if they became pregnant while receiving treatment. Contraception was used by 55% of patients (n = 11), of whom 55% of the women (n = 6) were using abstinence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this pilot study demonstrates the need for reproductive health counseling in women with cancer; the range of discussion must include fertility interest, contraception, and fertility preservation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, 1900 W Polk St., Room #1217, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. ashleshapatel16@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ashlesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Mini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sreedevi
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malapati
authors.forename: Rachana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutaria
authors.forename: Monique Brown
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schoenhage
authors.forename: Ashok R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Erika K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Radeke
authors.forename: Howard A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Zaren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents