Fertility Concerns in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Author Information
Author(s): Holmer Pauline, Henry Brianna, Duong Jenny, Lawal Oluwaseyi A., Fidler-Benaoudia Miranda M., Reynolds Kathleen, Michel Gisela, Lehmann Vicky, Schulte Fiona S. M.
Primary Institution: University of Calgary
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of fertility-related concerns among long-term survivors of childhood cancer?
Conclusion
Fertility-related concerns are common among young survivors of childhood cancer and need to be addressed by healthcare professionals.
Supporting Evidence
- 21.2% of survivors reported fertility-related concerns.
- Survivors with additional health concerns were more likely to report fertility-related concerns.
- 30% of a subsample reported having concerns at least once over time.
- Lymphoma survivors were least likely to report fertility-related concerns.
- Fear of other health problems was significantly associated with reporting fertility-related concerns.
- Sexually active survivors were more likely to report fertility-related concerns.
Takeaway
Kids who survive cancer often worry about having babies when they grow up, and it's important for doctors to help them with these worries.
Methodology
Self-report data were collected using the Long-Term Survivor Questionnaire at the Alberta Children’s Hospital’s Long-Term Survivor Clinic.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data and the broad nature of the fertility-related concerns question.
Limitations
The study did not assess survivors' fertility status or their knowledge about it, and some subgroups were too small for analysis.
Participant Demographics
Participants were nearly evenly split between male and female, with a mean age of 22.7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[0.10, 0.68]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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