HemOnc Today has published a nice article discussing what responsibility the oncologist has in informing the patient about his/her fertility risks and potential for preservation. The article cites the most recent American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) meeting, which found that only approximately 25% of oncologists refer their patients for fertility preservation. Furthermore, less than 40% of oncologists were aware of ASCO’s recommendations for patient guidance and navigation regarding fertility preservation. The article also discusses benefits and disadvantages of current fertility preservation methods available for men and women, including gamete cryopreservation, embryo creation and freezing, and ovarian tissue banking.

Related to the last blog on fertility choices in the economic recession, it seems that up to 51% of oncologists don’t mention fertility preservation options to patients because they believe that these measures will be financially out of reach.

To overcome these obstacles in doctor-patient communication, the article suggests that oncologists seek information from the Oncofertility Consortium’s Physician hotline and be very clear in their recommendations to patients, as these can be incredibly influential in the patient’s ultimate decisions about fertility preservation.

By Lisa Campo-Engelstein

A recent report  by the Guttmacher Institute (downloadable pdf is here) found that the recession has significant effects on women’s fertility preferences, contraceptive preferences and use, and access to reproductive services. These effects have been especially significant for lower income women. Nearly half of all women surveyed stated that, due to the economy, they want to delay or reduce childbearing. This effect is not surprisingly given that the average cost of raising a child for eighteen years (not including college) ranges from $143,790 to $289,380, depending on income (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Because of their increased concern to prevent pregnancy, some women are turning to more effective contraceptives and being more careful to use contraception regularly. However, other women are not using contraception as consistently as a way to save money. Additionally, women are delaying reproductive health visits or switching to a cheaper contraceptive to save money.

This economic downturn probably affects cancer survivors and patients as well. Cancer survivors who banked eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue prior to cancer treatment may delay childbearing because assisted reproductive technology (ART) is so expensive, especially for individuals without insurance who will be paying out of pocket. Cancer patients may choose not to freeze eggs, embryos, or ovarian tissue because of the current cost of storage as well as the future costs of ART and childrearing.

Reference: Guttmacher Institute. September 2009. “A real-time look at the impact of the recession on women’s family planning and pregnancy decisions.” www.guttmacher.org

The Oncofertility Consortium held its third annual conference this past week (September 13-15) in Chicago, bringing together a diverse group of researchers, basic scientists, clinicians, nurses, social workers, sociologists, economists, and ethicists to share their progress on oncofertility research initiatives as well as brainstorm for future endeavors. We are happy to report that it was a tremendously successful event that included the participation of over 150 individuals from around the US and abroad. Thank you to all who attended and shared their insights and experiences with the larger group—we hope you were as satisfied with the interdisciplinary and interactive event as we were. A special thanks to our keynote speaker, Dr. John Eppig, as well as all presenters throughout the event and the dedicated staff at Prentice Women’s Hospital and our NUAMPS IT team who ensured a seamless event.

The entire event was recorded live via AdobeConnect, and we look forward to sharing the exciting presentations and discussions with you once all the footage has been uploaded. A link to the archived footage will be posted on the blog once all videos are available, so check back frequently within the next few weeks to see the Oncofertility Consortium in action!

Here are a couple of shots from today’s events. A full gallery will follow.

The third annual meeting of the Oncofertility Consortium will be held next week, September 13-15, in Chicago, Illinois. Over 150 participants from the U.S. and abroad will discuss the latest breakthroughs in the science and clinical applications of fertility preservation methods for cancer patients. More information on the event, including a meeting agenda, can be found here.

Hello everyone! I currently work as a Lab Technician in the Woodruff Laboratory, and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself. In December 2007, I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a double major in Integrative Biology and Psychology. During my undergraduate career, I did much research focusing on Endometriosis, which sparked my interest in the field of reproductive biology.

Upon graduation, I was drawn to working in the Woodruff lab because of the application of bench work science directly to the clinical world. As a volunteer working with cancer patients, it allowed the impact of the Oncofertility research to reach me at a more personal level. Currently, I work with the model systems for follicle research and culture, in addition to a variety of different applications for these systems. For example, one project that I recently worked on with Dr. Susan Barrett and Richard Ahn, involved testing the effects of certain chemotherapeutics on fertility in females. Through blogging, I hope to share a lot more about the collaborative lab research with all of you! Thanks for reading!

Hello all.  I wanted to take a moment on the blog to introduce myself, even though I’m mainly involved on the administrative side of the Oncofertility Consortium (so you won’t be seeing too many research-centered blogs from me).  I’m a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Communication, with a minor in business and marketing.  After working for Dr. Olke Uhlenbeck on the Evanston Campus of Northwestern, I came down to Chicago to be Dr. Woodruff’s assistant in the Consortium.

I’ll be keeping the blog up to date on all the important happenings here at the Oncofertility Consortium, including new press, new papers, and new events.  I’m looking forward to reading your comments and engaging in the conversation about oncofertility.