Published in:
01-06-2015 | Original Article
Early referral makes the decision-making about fertility preservation easier: a pilot survey study of young female cancer survivors
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 6/2015
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Purpose
The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between patients’ decision-making about fertility preservation (FP) and time between cancer diagnosis and FP consultation in young female cancer survivors.
Methods
This is a pilot survey study of women aged 18–43 years seen for FP consultation between April 2009 and December 2010.
Results
Among 52 women who completed the survey, 15 (29 %) had their FP consultation more than 2 weeks after their cancer diagnosis (late referral group) and 37 (71 %) were within 2 weeks of their cancer diagnosis (early referral group). In univariate analysis, the only difference between the late referral and early referral groups was a higher decisional conflict scale (DCS) in late referral group (p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, late referral group was more likely to have high DCS (>35) compared to early referral group (odds ratio 4.8, 95 % confidence interval 1.5, 21.6) after adjusting for age, center, and type of cancer.
Conclusion
Early referral to a fertility specialist can help patients make better decision about FP. This is the first study to suggest that early referral is important in patients’ decision-making process about FP treatment. Our finding supports the benefit of early referral in patients who are interested in FP which is consistent with prior studies about FP referral patterns.