title: Factors associated with pregnancy attempts among female young adult cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about pregnancy attempts among female young cancer survivors (YCS). We sought to determine fertility preservation (FP), demographic, cancer, and reproductive characteristics associated with pregnancy attempts after cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 251 female YCS (ages 18-44) to complete a survey on reproductive health outcomes. We used log-binomial regression models to estimate relative risks (RR) for characteristics associated with pregnancy attempts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the entire cohort, median time since cancer diagnosis was 2.4 years (interquartile range 4.0). Fifty-two YCS (21%) attempted pregnancy after cancer diagnosis. In unadjusted analyses, lack of FP therapy prior to cancer treatment, older age, partnered relationship, higher income, no history of stem cell or bone marrow transplant, and longer duration of survivorship were significantly associated with pregnancy attempts. In multivariable analyses, YCS who did not undergo FP therapy were more than twice as likely to attempt pregnancy as those who did undergo FP therapy (RR 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 4.3). Partnered status (RR 7.1, 95% CI 2.5, 20.2) and >2 years since cancer diagnosis (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3, 4.1) were also significantly associated with attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In YCS, milestones including partnered relationships and longer duration of cancer survivorship are important to attempting pregnancy. A novel, inverse association between FP therapy and pregnancy attempts warrants further study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancy attempts after cancer were more likely after attaining both social- and cancer-related milestones. As these milestones require time, YCS should be made aware of their potential for concomitant, premature loss of fertility in order to preserve their range of fertility options.
authors.affiliation: Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive #0901, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0901, USA.
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dominick
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Whitcomb
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gorman
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mersereau
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: H Irene
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D017741:Survivors; D055815:Young Adult