Utilization of Fertility Preservation Services By Patients Aged 18-40 Prior to Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) often face infertility later in life due to preparative conditioning regimens that are harmful to reproductive function. Current American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical guidelines on fertility preservation (FP) recommend that all patients who are at risk for infertility due to medical treatment should be referred to a fertility specialist for counseling following diagnosis and preferably prior to the start of treatment. Despite HCT physicians ’ awareness of standard-of-care services for preserving fertility and the psychosocial sequelae resulting from patients losing their fertility, anecdotal evidence indicates that few patients actually receive FP services.
Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - Category: Hematology Authors: Tags: 85 Source Type: research