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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
The contents of the Oncofertility Consortium Blog are for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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