Fertility status perception, fertility preservation and desire to have children in cancer survivors: French VICAN survey

Abstract

Aim:

To report fertility status perception, fertility preservation and desire to have children in French cancer survivors 2 and 5 years after diagnosis.

Methods:

A total of 427 women and 115 men self-reported treatment-induced infertility, fertility status, access to gamete conservation, desire to have children and pregnancy/live births.

Results:

A total of 96.5% of men and 92.9% of women were thought to be fertile at diagnosis and 38% desired to have children. A total of 57.8% of men and 67.4% of women declared that no fertility preservation had been discussed before treatment. After 2 years, 26.8% of patients still desired to have children. After 5 years, 18 live births have been reported.

Conclusion:

Despite a legal obligation and technical progress, there is a lack of information given to patients.

Lay abstract

We conducted a study on the status of fertility counseling and preservation before cancer treatment in patients under 40 years old. Despite a legal requirement in France and advancements in the field, we demonstrate that there remains a lack of information given to patients and a low rate of fertility preservation.