A Fertility Preservation Toolkit for Pediatric Surgeons Caring for Children with Cancer
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In brief
In brief
This review provides pediatric surgeons with a practical framework for fertility preservation counseling and procedures in children with cancer. It covers risk assessment based on planned therapy, age-appropriate preservation options, and guidance for establishing institutional oncofertility programs to address long-term reproductive health in cancer survivors.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Publication date: Available online 16 November 2019
Source: Seminars in Pediatric Surgery
Author(s): Timothy B. Lautz, Courtney J. Harris, Monica M. Laronda, Laura Erickson, Erin E. Rowell
Abstract
Survival for children with cancer has improved significantly in recent decades, prompting an increasing emphasis on minimizing late effects of therapy, including infertility and premature gonadal insufficiency. The time interval after diagnosis and before therapy initiation can be stressful and overwhelming for patients and their families coming to terms with the implications of the diagnosis, but is also the optimal time to address oncofertility options. Pediatric surgeons are often an integral part of the care team for these patients during this vulnerable time period and play a key role in advocating for and performing oncofertility procedures. Children with cancer have both non-experimental and experimental fertility preservation options available depending on their pubertal status and a risk assessment performed based on their anticipated therapy. This review provides an oncofertility toolkit for pediatric surgeons to perform a risk assessment, counsel families on fertility preservation options, and establish an oncofertility program tailored to the resources available at their institutions.