Case-based survey: The impact of breast-cancer treatment on fertility in Japan

Rena Yamazaki; Masanori Ono; Tomoharu Sugie; Masafumi Inokuchi; Satoko Ishikawa; Yuki Horage; Yasuyuki Kojima; Takeshi Iwasa; Tetsuaki Hara; Yumi Nagata; Keiichi Kato; Yasuhito Michikura; Takeshi Kuramoto; Soko Uchida; Akihito Horie; Hiroshi Fujiwara; Toshiya Matsuzaki

doi:10.1111/jog.15132

Case-based survey: The impact of breast-cancer treatment on fertility in Japan

J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2022 Mar;48(3):553-562. doi: 10.1111/jog.15132. Epub 2021 Dec 21.

Authors

Rena Yamazaki¹, Masanori Ono^{1

2}, Tomoharu Sugie³, Masafumi Inokuchi⁴, Satoko Ishikawa⁵, Yuki Horage⁶, Yasuyuki Kojima⁷, Takeshi Iwasa⁸, Tetsuaki Hara⁹, Yumi Nagata¹⁰, Keiichi Kato¹¹, Yasuhito Michikura¹², Takeshi Kuramoto¹³, Soko Uchida¹⁴, Akihito Horie¹⁵, Hiroshi Fujiwara¹, Toshiya Matsuzaki¹⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
⁴ Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Kanazawa Medical University, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa, Japan.
⁵ Department of Breast Surgery, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
⁷ Department of Breast Oncology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
⁸ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan.
⁹ Division of Reproductive Medicine, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
¹⁰ IVF Nagata Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan.
¹¹ Kato Ladies Clinic, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
¹² Kanazawa Tamago Clinic, Kanazawa, Japan.
¹³ Kuramoto Women's Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan.
¹⁴ Department of Gynecology, National Hospital Organization Fukuokahigashi Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan.
¹⁵ Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
¹⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yoshinogawa Medical Center, Yoshinogawa, Tokushima, Japan.

PMID: 34933405
DOI: 10.1111/jog.15132

Abstract

Aim: To assess the impact of breast-cancer treatment on fertility.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, case-based survey of treatments administered for infertility and pregnancy outcomes after patients underwent treatment for breast cancer. Surveys were distributed to breast oncology facilities and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) facilities.

Results: As high as 60% of the pregnancies in women under the age of 35 years occurred spontaneously. Additionally, the fertility rates decreased as age increased (under 35 years of age: 40%, 35-39 years of age: 21%, 40-44 years of age: 10%, respectively). In women who became pregnant after treatment for breast cancer, conception was achieved within 1 to 3 years after beginning to try for pregnancy.

Conclusions: After treatment for breast cancer, women can expect spontaneous pregnancy, especially if they are under 35 years of age. It is important for patients 35 years of age and older to commence assisted reproductive technology in a timely manner when pursuing fertility after treatment for breast cancer.

Keywords: breast neoplasms; cancer survivors; fertility; reproduction; surveys and questionnaires.

MeSH terms

Adult
Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
Female
Fertility
Fertility Preservation*
Humans
Infertility*
Japan
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies