Fertility under uncertainty: exploring differences in fertility-related concerns and psychosocial aspects between breast cancer survivors and non-cancer infertile women

Reproductive concerns among adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A scoping review of current research situations

“…In studies using the RCAC, 58% to 61% of AYA cancer survivors reported high concerns on at least one dimension, and 28% to 44% of the survivors reported moderate to high overall reproductive concerns, with the total scores for reproductive concerns ranging from 56.45 ± 8.18 to 65.73 ± 12.36 29,31,34,36–38,41,44,45,47 . Compared with healthy controls, breast cancer survivors presented higher potential fertility concerns 24 . As assessed using the RCS, high reproductive concerns were reported by 56% of breast cancer survivors 30, and no group differences in RCS mean scores were found between cancer survivors and infertile women without cancer 21 .…”

“…Various measures were used to examine reproductive concerns, which were reported as a primary outcome in 40 articles (Supplement File). Measurements of reproductive concerns involved the Reproductive Concerns Scale (RCS), 21–23 the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale (RCAC), 18,24–48 the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI), 49 the Fertility Problem Inventory, 50 the Cancer‐specific version of the Leipzig Questionnaire of Motives to have a Child (LQM‐C), 51 the Fertility Issues Survey, 52–54 and the Fertility Issues and Outcomes Scale 55 . Hammond, Abrams, and Syrjala used a digital scoring method (scored from 0 = not at all to 10 = very much) to measure the level of concern about infertility 56 .…”

“…However, if survivors received in‐depth reproductive counseling prior to treatment, they had lower levels of reproductive concerns 23 . In addition, reproductive concerns fully mediated the relationship between the importance of parenting and quality of life, and was reported to have association with depression 24,25,30,39 …”

“…Our findings showed that the prevalence of reproductive concerns in AYA cancer survivors ranged from 44% to 86% and that 28% to 44% of survivors experienced moderate to severe concerns. Although cancer patients do have a risk for impaired fertility, Bartolo et al 24 suggested that young females with breast cancers have identical concerns about fertility potential but a lower quality of life than infertile women, which indicates that cancer survivors have greater difficulty in adjusting (or experience a “double trauma” effect) disease and potential fertility damage. Lack of adequate information about reproductive options seemed to have a relationship with negative mood and increased distress in cancer survivors.…”

Oncofertility care: A qualitative study to understand personal perspectives and barriers in the multidisciplinary breast care team in Taiwan

“…These oncologic treatments have significantly improved survival, but frequently result in loss of fertility. 3 The impact of gametotoxic chemotherapies on the ovary is well reported, but even treatments that are reputedly not toxic to ovarian reserve can have a negative impact on future fertility. For example, although women treated with tamoxifen do not appear to experience a treatment-related diminution in ovarian reserve, nevertheless they were still less likely to have a child after their breast cancer diagnosis than were patients who had never used tamoxifen.…”