Birth desires and intentions of women diagnosed with a meningioma

Abstract

OBJECT To the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has examined the impact of meningioma diagnosis on women’s birth desires and intentions. In an exploratory study, the authors surveyed women affected by meningioma to determine their attitudes toward childbearing and the influences, including physician recommendations, on this major life decision and compared their responses to those of women in the general population. METHODS Meningioma survivors from the Meningioma Mommas online support group participated in an online survey that included questions on their birth desires and intentions, whether the risk of disease recurrence influenced their reproductive decisions, and risks communicated to them by their physicians. Using chi-square and rank-sum tests, the authors compared the survey participants’ responses with those of the general population as assessed by the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Logistic regression was used to adjust for differences in age, race, ethnicity, education, parity, pregnancy status, and infertility status in these populations. RESULTS Respondents with meningioma were more likely than those in the general population to report wanting a baby (70% vs 54%, respectively), intending to have a baby (27% vs 12%, respectively), and being very sure about this intention (10% vs 2%, respectively). More than half (32 of 61) of the women of childbearing age reported being advised by a physician about potential risk factors for recurrence of the meningioma, and pregnancy was the most commonly cited risk factor (26 of 61). The most common factor influencing birth desires and intentions was risk of the meningioma returning and requiring more treatment, which was reported by nearly two-thirds of the women in their childbearing years. CONCLUSIONS A majority of the meningioma survivors of childbearing age who completed the survey reported a desire for children, although concern about the risk of meningioma recurrence was an important factor for these women when making reproductive decisions. Physicians are in a position to educate their patients on potential risk factors for recurrence and to provide contact information for services such as counseling and family planning.

Medical Cannabis Use in Glioma Patients Treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida

“…Participants were recruited under an established protocol. [43][44][45] The study was reviewed and approved by the IRB at Moffitt. All patients completed a questionnaire on demographics, medical and psychosocial history, and use of MM.…”

Fertility treatment is associated with multiple meningiomas and younger age at diagnosis

“…Long-term contraception therapy also exposes women to progesterone and Harland et al found that following resection of WHO grade I meningiomas, progesterone-only contraception was associated with increased recurrence (33.3 vs 19.6%) decreased time to recurrence (18 vs. 32 months, p=0.038) [32]. Interestingly, patients with meningioma have a stronger desire to have a child than the general population (70% vs 54%) and are more likely to intend to have a baby (27% vs 12%) [33]. Despite this desire, patients with meningioma are discouraged from using hormonally based contraceptives and cautioned that pregnancy could be a risk factor for meningioma recurrence [33].…”

“…Interestingly, patients with meningioma have a stronger desire to have a child than the general population (70% vs 54%) and are more likely to intend to have a baby (27% vs 12%) [33]. Despite this desire, patients with meningioma are discouraged from using hormonally based contraceptives and cautioned that pregnancy could be a risk factor for meningioma recurrence [33].…”

Sarcoma as a Model for Adolescent and Young Adult Care

“…We continue to believe that improvements will only come from research, and these efforts first occurred within the sarcoma population 22 and then through collaborating across other disease-specific departments. This model has been expanded to complete research efforts of interest to both the AYA program and other disease-specific departments, such as drug development and trial enrollment rates in AYA patients with melanoma since the development of specific BRAF targeting and immune checkpoints inhibitors, 23,24 age-specific mutations in non-mismatch repair AYA colorectal cancers, 25 fertility communication in neuro-oncology, 26 and biologic evaluations in hematologic disorders. 27…”