title: Fertility conservation in breast cancer patients.
abstract: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women. Increasing survival rates after breast cancer, new reproductive techniques and growing interest regarding the quality of life after cancer have brought the possibilities of fertility-preserving treatment to the center of attention of oncologists and affected patients. Many of these women suffer from infertility and premature menopause as a result of chemotherapy. Several measures, for example gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs, hormonal stimulation to cryopreserve oocytes, ovarian tissue cryoconservation or a combination of the methods, can be undertaken depending on the hormone receptor status of the tumor, and the patient's age and partner status. Embryo cryopreservation is currently the most promising fertility preservation option. Early counseling on fertility-preserving strategies is of utmost importance, so that the fertility-preserving method can be integrated into the oncologic therapy regime.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University Hospital for Women, University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lawrenz
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henes
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neunhoeffer
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fehm
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010050:Ovarian Function Tests
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone