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While cancer rates continue to increase, therapy has dramatically decreased the mortality rates. The increased efficacy of current therapies may unfortunately have profound toxic effects on gamete function in both adolescent and reproductive age groups, with infertility as an expected consequence of cancer therapy. Significant progress in the advancement of fertility preservation therapies provides realistic options for future fertility in cancer survivors. However, a number of challenging issues need to be considered when presenting fertility preservation options. This overview highlights some of these considerations including religious-cultural-ethical values, access to care and cost of services, developmental capacity and consent, and posthumous reproduction.

New forms of contraception have been developed to improve the safety and tolerability of contraceptive methods without compromising efficacy. The newest developments in contraception including low and ultra-low doses of estrogen, less-androgenic 19 nor-testosterone progestins, and the nonsteroidal progestin drospirenone, the Quick Start method to improve compliance of oral contraceptives, and the contraceptive transdermal patch, the vaginal estrogen-progestin ring, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, and the hysteroscopic transcervical sterilization techniques are discussed.

A systematic approach to fertility preservation prior to treatment in all patients receiving gonadotoxic agents optimizes care. Fertility preservation strategies can restore hormonal function and preserve reproductive potential. Future research in personalizing approach to care is critical to meeting the needs of this patient population.