Which female cancer patients fail to receive fertility counseling before treatment in the state of Georgia?
OBJECTIVE
To assess which characteristics are associated with failure to receive fertility counseling among a cohort of young women diagnosed with cancer.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
A total of 1,282 cancer survivors, of whom 1,116 met the inclusion criteria for the analysis.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
The main outcome in this study was whether or not women reported receiving any information at the time of their cancer diagnosis on how cancer treatment might affect their ability to become pregnant.


RESULTS
Forty percent of cancer survivors reported that they did not receive fertility counseling at the time of cancer diagnosis. Women were more likely to fail to receive counseling if they had only a high school education or less or if they had given birth. Cancer-related variables that were associated with a lack of counseling included not receiving chemotherapy as part of treatment and diagnosis with certain cancer types.


CONCLUSIONS
Counseling about the risk of infertility and available fertility preservation options is important to cancer patients. Additionally, counseling can make women aware of other adverse reproductive outcomes, such as early menopause and its associated symptoms. Less-educated women and parous women are at particular risk of not getting fertility-related information. Programs that focus on training not just the oncologist, but also other health care providers involved with cancer care, to provide fertility counseling may help to expand access.
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: helen.chin@nih.gov.
Helen B
HB
Chin
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Penelope P
PP
Howards
Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Michael R
MR
Kramer
Aflac Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Ann C
AC
Mertens
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
Jessica B
JB
Spencer
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003376:Counseling; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005845:Georgia; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
Cancer survivors; female fertility; fertility counseling
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