Pediatric and young adult patients and oncofertility

Abstract

With improving survival rates for pediatric and young adult cancer patients, considerations regarding the long-term effects of therapy have become more important. Cancer therapies are known to pose reproductive risks, though the effects may be unpredictable. All at-risk patients should have a discussion about potential treatment-related infertility before the onset of cancer therapy, and should be offered appropriate fertility preservation options. Embryo and sperm cryopreservation are considered standard therapy, though oocyte cryopreservation is gaining acceptance. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation, while still experimental, is showing great promise. It is the only option currently available to prepubertal girls. No fertility preservation options exist for prepubertal boys though some institutions may offer experimental testicular tissue cryopreservation.