Correlates of fertility issues in an internet survey of cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were (1) to determine what young cancer survivors know about the effect of their cancer on fertility, how fertility difficulties affected their lives and whether they would opt for fertility preservation (FP) and (2) to assess the sources of information and the helpfulness of them.


METHODS
Women of at least 18 years with cancer affecting reproductive function were recruited from eight cancer websites for this online survey. The Cancer and Fertility Survey (CFS) contained items from validated inventories and items to assess fertility issues in cancer patients. Quantitative analyses (t-tests, chi(2), analysis of variance) and thematic analysis of free text data were performed.


RESULTS
Of the 80 participating women, 68.1% rated the risk of infertility as high. The mean number of professionals consulted was 3.56 (SD = 2.7), but 20% of women had not discussed fertility with any professional. The weighted mean helpfulness index was the highest for spouses and oncologists. Strength of positive attitudes towards FP was significantly greater than that of negative attitudes.


CONCLUSIONS
The need to discuss fertility is high among women searching for information on cancer websites. Options to preserve fertility were positively viewed but the actual use may be limited by concerns about safety.
Tschudin
Sibil
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. lwxsm5@nottingham.ac.uk
Bunting
Laura
L
Abraham
Jacinta
J
Gallop-Evans
Eve
E
Fiander
Allison
A
Boivin
Jacky
J
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female; D020407:Internet; D009369:Neoplasms; D017741:Survivors