Dialogues in Oncofertility

Abstract:

Resource wealth or absence defines access to many fields of science and medicine; the emerging field of oncofertility is one prime example of this resource and access dilemma. At the intersection of life and death, where life-limiting and life-producing events cross paths, the implicit contradictions of cancer and fertility have left men and women with limited choices, until recently. As the field of oncofertility expands, it was realized that many intellectual and practice based resource issues have equal or greater impact on access to care as insurance and reimbursement. Indeed, the contrasting emotions and expectations of practitioners and patients, together with a continued paucity of scientific knowledge about fertility in the cancer setting and the lack of clinical assessment of reproductive outcomes for adolescents and young adults, represent some of the boundary conditions to increase access to oncofertility. When these barriers are scaled up to the global setting, the need for advocacy and leadership from multiple organizations and individuals becomes urgent. To better understand this uniquely defined resource landscape, we conducted an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) faced by global oncofertility a SWOT analysis to better understand the current state of the field and to create multimodal interventions that may provide a roadmap for the future of this discipline.

Acknowledgments:

AUTHORED BY: Woodruff, Teresa KCampo-Engelstein, LisaAlmeida-Santos, Teresa
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-8379-g677
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/7f794595-230e-48a0-aee1-d92f567d09a7

Abstract:

Turner syndrome (TS) is the most common sex chromosome disorder. A hallmark clinical feature of TS is early ovarian failure, which severely decreases a womans chances of achieving natural pregnancy. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation, an experimental fertility preservation process, may provide women with TS another reproductive option. This study explored the attitudes of the Turner syndrome community regarding possible issues surrounding fertility preservation.

Acknowledgments:

AUTHORED BY: Gaber, Rikki
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-81vk-1m98
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/28201f5d-8f20-4d1c-add3-409ca6f061a5

Abstract:

Fertility preservation attitudes and perceptions have been widely studied among male and female cancer survivors as well as oncologists and reproductive specialists. Currently there is little information available on the perceptions and attitudes of partners on fertility preservation and cancer. The object of this study is to investigate attitudes and perceptions towards fertility preservation among cancer survivor partners, as well as evaluate partner influence and additional factors that impact FP decision-making.

Acknowledgments:

AUTHORED BY: Frome, KendraGoetsch, Allison LouiseWicklund, Catherine AHutten Selkirk, Christina GWoodruff, Teresa K
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-rwwc-g486
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/11306426-f23a-4db9-bb68-b49f43362d41

Acknowledgments:

AUTHORED BY: Ataman, LaurenSmith, Brigid MartzWoodruff, Teresa K
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-a6hd-t246
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/1aaa14ed-50b0-4c3c-a249-d088b8424a1d

Abstract:

In generating a communication strategy for The Oncofertility Consortium, we used three general guiding principles; presented here as tactics that may have value in other areas of our field. First, technology implementation and delivery is a collaboration between people, ideas, the message and infrastructure. Secondly, methods and tactics should match the need. Third, creation of a robust, interdisciplinary intellectual environment depends upon establishment of a common language between scientists, clinicians,scholars, patients and practitioners. While the needs and expectations of the medical enterprise (patient and provider), research enterprise and community-facing activities vary greatly, the tactics and methods below were integrated into a seamless product that provides value to the field. Investments of intellectual time and tangible dollars in this kind of work is paramount to increasing the pace, quality and reach of the work. If we,as a field, limit our research to publications in Biology of Reproduction, we will only reach a limited audience. If we wish to ensure translations of our work and ideas to the clinical setting, and if we wish to engage the public in the work that is supported by taxpayer dollars, new tactics are required. The following is a short description of the ways in which these concepts were put into practice in the development of the Oncofertility Consortium and the National Physicians Cooperative (NPC), the scientists and the practitioners providing fertility options to young cancer patients, respectively. The purpose of this editorial is to provide food for thought on how other reproductive science endeavors can be catalyzed by integrating technology into their work.

Acknowledgments:

AUTHORED BY: Woodruff, Teresa K
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-7pr4-r416
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/50abe4ff-81d9-40ab-bafd-24d68b1d9c40

Acknowledgements:

AUTHORED BY: Woodruff, Teresa K
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-k3fd-5d89
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/10014f57-93aa-4fe1-bc0b-7444813e9b3a

Acknowledgements:

AUTHORED BY: Ataman, LaurenSmith, Brigid MartzWoodruff, Teresa K
DOI: doi:10.18131/g3-dams-1z38
GRANTS & FUNDING: This work was supported by the Center for Reproductive Health After Disease (P50HD076188) from the National Institutes of Health National Center for Translational Research in Reproduction and Infertility (NCTRI).

Source Link:

https://digitalhub.northwestern.edu/files/1b68450e-37e2-4dbe-8630-3ffc812c3040