title: The desire for children and fertility issues among young German cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For young cancer patients, family planning is not always completed at the time of cancer diagnosis. This study investigated young cancer patients' desire to have children, its intensity, and their discussion with oncologists and fertility specialists about fertility. Furthermore, gender differences, differences between childless patients and patients with children, and correlations with psychological distress were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 149 cancer patients (range, 18-45 years of age) answered a self-developed questionnaire. Psychological distress was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-four percent of patients had a desire to have children at the time of diagnosis. Whereas the intensity of the desire for children increased pre- to post-treatment in childless patients, it decreased in patients who already had children. A total of 55 patients who wanted a child (50%) needed supportive care concerning this issue; 60% of the total sample had discussed fertility aspects with their oncologists and 20% with fertility specialists. Patients reported higher levels of satisfaction with their discussions with fertility specialists than with their discussions with oncologists. Men (56%) underwent fertility preservation more often than did women (31%). Female sex was the only variable predicting psychological distress, whereas parenthood, fertility preservation, and desire for children had no significant impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The desire to have children and the fertility issues involved are important for young cancer patients. Reasons for not discussing fertility aspects with oncologists and the cause of low referral rates to fertility specialists should be explored in future studies. The implementation of structured psychosocial supportive care might address the needs of highly fertility-distressed patients.
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: Kristina.Geue@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Geue
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Richter
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Ricarda
authors: R
authors: Schmidt
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Annekathrin
authors: A
authors: Sender
authors: Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe-Brustzentrum, Martin-Luther Krankenhaus, Berlin, Germany.
authors: Friederike
authors: F
authors: Siedentopf
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Brähler
authors: Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Yve
authors: Y
authors: Stöbel-Richter
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000523:psychology*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AYA; Cancer; Fertility preservation; Parenthood; Want to have a child