Highlights
- •Oncofertility addresses fertility and reproductive health needs for cancer patients.
- •In women with new diagnoses of gynecologic cancers, strategies for fertility preservation exist.
- •Patients should be informed about assisted reproductive technology options.
Abstract
The emerging field of oncofertility addresses fertility and the reproductive health
needs for cancer patients, a key topic in cancer survivorship. Given that the standard
treatment for gynecologic malignancies involves removal of reproductive organs, pelvic
radiation, or chemotherapy, the effect of such treatment on fertility and options
for fertility preservation are even more relevant than for other malignancies.
In young women with new diagnoses of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancers, viable
strategies for fertility preservation without compromising oncological outcome exist
and should be considered. We present here a comprehensive review of the literature
as it pertains to gynecologic malignancies on 1) the effects of radiation and chemotherapy
on fertility, 2) fertility-sparing surgeries and the role of assisted reproductive
technology, and 3) fertility preservation in adolescent girls and women with BRCA
germline mutations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 22, 2016
Accepted:
December 14,
2016
Received in revised form:
December 13,
2016
Received:
November 1,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
