title: Breast cancer and fertility preservation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the benefits of adjuvant systemic therapy given to women with breast cancer of reproductive age, its effects on fertility, and options for fertility preservation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Publications relevant to fertility preservation and breast cancer were identified through a PubMed database search.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most women who develop invasive breast cancer under age 40 will be advised to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy with or without extended antihormonal therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence and death from breast cancer. Adjuvant chemotherapy particularly with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide is gonadotoxic and markedly accelerates the rate of age-related ovarian follicle loss. Although loss of fertility is an important issue for young cancer survivors, there is often little discussion about fertility preservation before initiation of adjuvant therapy. Greater familiarity with prognosis and effects of different types of adjuvant therapy on the part of infertility specialists and fertility preservation options such cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes, and ovarian tissue on the part of oncologists would facilitate these discussions. Establishment of rapid fertility consultation links within cancer survivorship programs can help ensure that every young woman who is likely to undergo gonadotoxic cancer treatment is counseled about the effects of therapy and options available to her to increase the likelihood of childbearing after cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas, USA. skim2@kumc.edu
authors.forename: S Samuel
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klemp
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fabian
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009865:Oocytes; D011247:Pregnancy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012008:Recurrence; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*