Fertility Preservation in Pediatric Subspecialties: A Pilot Needs Assessment Beyond Oncology

Branavan Vakeesan; Danielle R Weidman; Anne Marie Maloney; Lisa Allen; Armando J Lorenzo; Abha A Gupta

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.10.072

Fertility Preservation in Pediatric Subspecialties: A Pilot Needs Assessment Beyond Oncology

J Pediatr. 2018 Mar:194:253-256. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.10.072. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Authors

Branavan Vakeesan¹, Danielle R Weidman², Anne Marie Maloney³, Lisa Allen⁴, Armando J Lorenzo⁵, Abha A Gupta³

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
² Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: danielle.weidman@sickkids.ca.
³ Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Section of Gynecology, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

PMID: 29221696
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.10.072

Abstract

Physicians from 6 non-oncology pediatric subspecialties were surveyed about fertility preservation (FP) to assess education/service needs. Almost all (96%; 25 of 26) reported having patients at risk of infertility; however, only 58% (15 of 26) had discussed FP with patients' families. Most subspecialists (92%; 23 of 25) would like access to an FP program. Our data support exploring the expansion of FP programs beyond oncology.

Keywords: gonadotoxic treatment; oncofertility; subfertility.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Fertility Preservation / statistics & numerical data*
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Medical Oncology
Needs Assessment / statistics & numerical data
Pediatrics / statistics & numerical data
Physicians
Pilot Projects
Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
Surveys and Questionnaires