Fertility-Sparing Treatment for Early-Stage Cervical, Ovarian, and Endometrial Malignancies

Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Dec;136(6):1157-1169. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004163.

Abstract

Approximately 20% of gynecologic malignancies are diagnosed in reproductive-aged women, and standard-of-care surgical treatment often precludes future fertility. In early-stage disease, shared decision making about fertility-sparing medical and surgical approaches may give well-selected patients the opportunity to pursue their family-building goals without compromising long-term survival. Although future fertility is an important consideration for young women with cancer, rates of fertility-sparing procedures remain low. Moreover, because data on pregnancy rates and outcomes after fertility-sparing treatments are limited, it is challenging to counsel patients on realistic expectations. This review examines the critical oncologic outcomes of fertility-sparing approaches in early-stage gynecologic malignancies and highlights pregnancy outcomes in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / prevention & control*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic
  • Pregnancy Outcome*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy*