Pre-treatment fertility preservation and post-treatment reproduction in long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer

  • Vicky Lehmann*
  • , Carla Vlooswijk
  • , Winette T A van der Graaf
  • , Rhodé Bijlsma
  • , Suzanne E J Kaal
  • , Jan Martijn Kerst
  • , Jacqueline M Tromp
  • , Monique E M M Bos
  • , Tom van der Hulle
  • , Roy I Lalisang
  • , Janine Nuver
  • , Mathilde C M Kouwenhoven
  • , Christianne A R Lok
  • , Catharina C M Beerendonk
  • , Marij Dinkelman-Smit
  • , Olga Husson
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe recall of fertility-related consultations and cryopreservation and to examine reproductive goals and reproduction post-treatment in long-term survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) (age, 18-39 years) cancer.

METHODS: This study included n = 1457 male and n = 2112 female long-term survivors (M age  = 43-45 years; 5-22 years from diagnosis) who provided self-report. Clinical data were supplied by the Netherlands Cancer Registry.

RESULTS: Most male survivors (72.7%) recalled fertility-related consultations and 22.6% completed sperm cryopreservation. Younger age (OR = 2.8; 95%CI [2.2-3.6]), not having children (OR = 5.0; 95%CI [3.2-7.7]), testicular cancer or lymphoma/leukemia (OR = 2.8/2.5 relative to "others"), and more intense treatments (OR = 1.5; 95%CI [1.1-2.0]) were associated with higher cryopreservation rates. Time since diagnosis had no effect. Of men who cryopreserved, 12.1% utilized assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Most men (88.5%) felt their diagnosis did not affect their reproductive goals, but 7.6% wanted no (additional) children due to cancer. Half of female survivors (55.4%; n = 1171) recalled fertility-related consultations. Rates of cryopreservation were very low (3.6%), but increased after 2013 when oocyte cryopreservation became non-experimental. Of women who cryopreserved, 13.2% successfully utilized ART. Most women (74.8%) experienced no effects of cancer on reproductive goals, but 17.8% wanted no (additional) children due to cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreservation in men varied by patient/clinical factors and was very low in women, but data of more recently treated females are needed. Utilizing cryopreserved material through ART was rare, which questions its cost-effectiveness, but it may enhance survivors' well-being.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The extent to which cryopreservation positively affects survivors' well-being remains to be tested. Moreover, effects of cancer on reproductive goals require further attention, especially in women who refrain from having children due to cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1143-1154
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Cancer Survivorship
Volume19
Early online date6-Feb-2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug-2025

Keywords

  • Adolescence and young adulthood (AYA)
  • Reproductive goals
  • Fertility preservation
  • Assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
  • Oncology

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