- Title:
- Fertility preservation from the point of view of hematopoietic cell transplant specialists—a worldwide-web-based survey analysis
- Journal:
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Author(s):
- Alexandroni H1, Shoham G2, Levy-Toledano R3, Nagler A4, Mohty M5, Duarte R6, Leong M7, Shoham Z8,9
- Author(s) affiliation:
- 1The Reproductive Medicine and IVF Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
2Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, P.O.B. 39040, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel.
3Teva Europe, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
4 Division of Hematology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
5 Department of Haematology, Saint Antoine Hospital, INSERM UMRS 938, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France.
6Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
7IVF Clinic, The Women's Clinic, 12/F, Central Tower, 28 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, China.
8The Reproductive Medicine and IVF Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Pasternak Street, 76100, Rehovot, Israel
9Hadassah Medical School, Affiliated to the Hebrew University, Ein Kerem, P.O. Box 12271, 9112102, Jerusalem, Israel
- Short description:
- With the increase in cancer survival, men and women have a chance to conceive children post-recovery. This study aims to better understand hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) specialist practices and opinions related to fertility preservation for hematological malignancy patients. Survey requests were emailed to 586 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) members. Respondents completed the mostly multiple-choice questionnaire on the IVF-Worldwide.com website. Results were reported as a percentage of respondents. Responses were submitted by 150 HCT specialists from 41 (of 195) countries worldwide. The survey showed that most HCT specialists (87%) are aware of and inform patients that chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and transplantation could harm fertility. Specialists referred 56% of their male patients to fertility preservation but only 36% of their female patients; many pre-pubertal or near post-menopausal patients were not referred. This indicates that barriers may be preventing specialists from referring patients for fertility preservation. Many HCT specialists do not know about or use international fertility preservation recommendations, indicating that new protocols for enhancing awareness are needed. Establishing a referral process protocol to reproductive specialists should be considered. When non-urgent treatment can be deferred for 10–20 days, patients can have a sufficient window to undergo certain fertility preservation procedures.
- Link to the journal
Abstract taken from PubMed
- Abstract:
- With the increase in cancer survival, men and women have a chance to conceive children post-recovery. This study aims to better understand hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) specialist practices and opinions related to fertility preservation for hematological malignancy patients. Survey requests were emailed to 586 European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) members. Respondents completed the mostly multiple-choice questionnaire on the IVF-Worldwide.com website. Results were reported as a percentage of respondents. Responses were submitted by 150 HCT specialists from 41 (of 195) countries worldwide. The survey showed that most HCT specialists (87%) are aware of and inform patients that chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and transplantation could harm fertility. Specialists referred 56% of their male patients to fertility preservation but only 36% of their female patients; many pre-pubertal or near post-menopausal patients were not referred. This indicates that barriers may be preventing specialists from referring patients for fertility preservation. Many HCT specialists do not know about or use international fertility preservation recommendations, indicating that new protocols for enhancing awareness are needed. Establishing a referral process protocol to reproductive specialists should be considered. When non-urgent treatment can be deferred for 10-20 days, patients can have a sufficient window to undergo certain fertility preservation procedures.
- Link to the paper on PubMed
