Overall referral rates for FPC are low, and there appear to be significant discrepancies in referral based on ethnicity, age, parity and cancer type. This highlights a need for further provider education and awareness across all oncologic disciplines.

To investigate the efficacy of the current fertility preservation consultation process in patients' decision-making and socio-demographic and cognitive factors that may affect patients' decision-making, a prospective pilot survey was conducted at university-based IVF centres and included women aged 18-43 years seen for fertility preservation between April 2009 and December 2010. Patients' views on consultation and decision-making about fertility preservation were measured. Among 52 women who completed the survey, more than half (52%) requested their consultation. All patients answered that consultation was a helpful resource of information, and 73% made their decision about treatment after consultation. Decisional conflict was lower in patients who felt strongly that they were given opportunities to ask questions during the consultation (P=0.001) and higher those who reported that cost was strongly influential in the treatment decision (P<0.001) and who did not receive treatment (P<0.001). Although consultation appeared to play a critical role in patients' decision-making about fertility preservation, the referral rate for consultation by oncologists is still poor. Decision-making appears to be significantly impaired in patients grappling with financial concerns and when the opportunity to ask questions is not felt to be sufficient.

No abstract

FP knowledge following comprehensive FPC remains limited. Modifications to the current single visit FPC, such as a standard follow-up visit or additional educational tools, may be needed to improve patient comprehension of complex FP treatment options. Further research is needed to validate the knowledge scale in broader populations of cancer patients receiving FPC.

No abstract