The use of fertility preservation services for cancer patients: a single institution experience
Kelly McCarter, M.D.,
Joshua Stewart, M.D.,
Sushmita Gordhandas, M.D.,
Ashley Aluko, M.D.,
Nirali Shah, M.D.,
Glenn Schattman, M.D.,
Zev Rosenwaks, M.D.
Affiliations
Kelly McCarter, M.D.
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; Reprint requests: Kelly McCarter, M.D., The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Avenue 6th Floor New York, New York, United States, 10021).
Joshua Stewart, M.D.
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
Sushmita Gordhandas, M.D.
Gynecology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
Ashley Aluko, M.D.
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
Nirali Shah, M.D.
New York University Fertility Center, New York, New York
Glenn Schattman, M.D.
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
Zev Rosenwaks, M.D.
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
Objective: To analyze the use of services regarding fertility preservation (FP) in cancer patients at a single institution. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic medical center. Patient(s): A total of 208 FP referrals. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Method of FP; time from referral to FP intervention. Result(s): A total of 553 patients were referred to a reproductive specialist for FP in the setting of a medical diagnosis from 2011 to 2016. Of these, 208 patients satisfied the inclusion criteria and met with a reproductive specialist. Ninety patients underwent FP services. The average age at referral was 30.9 ± 7.9 years. Breast cancer (n=94, 45%) and leukemia/lymphoma (n=62, 30%) were the most prevalent cancer diagnoses. A 68.9% of patients underwent oocyte cryopreservation (n=62), 26.7% underwent embryo cryopreservation (n=24) and 4.4% underwent ovarian tissue preservation (n=4). The time interval from the referral to the FP intervention ranged from 1 to 810 days, with a median of 17 days. Conclusion(s): In the setting of a cancer diagnosis, most patients undergoing FP intervention underwent oocyte cryopreservation, were <35 years old, and underwent FP intervention in <30 days from referral. Whereas FP should ideally be initiated at the time of cancer diagnosis, all patients with a cancer diagnosis should be referred to a reproductive specialist and counseled on options for FP to preserve the optionality for the reproductive future they desire.
