Association between self-reported questionnaire data on fertility and results of hormone analyses in women after childhood cancer: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare self-reported questionnaire-based information on fertility impairment with results from hormone analyses in women who underwent chemoradiotherapy during childhood and adolescence.

Material and methods: In a cross-sectional study, questionnaires and hormone analyses (anti-Müllerian hormone [AMH], follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone) were evaluated in 86 female former pediatric oncology patients in Berlin in 2009.

Results: Eighty-six women (median age 23 years, range 19-41) participated in the study with a median follow up of 14 years (range 2-30) after diagnosis. Among women with information on permanent and transient amenorrhea, 9% (5/55) of the women stated that they were permanently amenorrheic. Among women not taking oral contraceptives and giving information on the regularity of their menstrual cycle, 18% (4/22) had an irregular menstrual cycle and 82% (18/22) had a regular menstrual cycle. The median AMH values for women who were categorized as infertile by questionnaire-based information were significantly lower than the AMH values of women who were categorized as fertile by questionnaire (0.05 vs 2.2 ng/mL, P = 0.004). Questionnaire-based categories on the regularity of the menstrual cycle and categories based on AMH values showed a satisfying percentage agreement (66.7%) and were moderately correlated (r = 0.42, P = 0.002).

Conclusion: Self-reported questionnaire data used to detect fertility impairment has limited correspondence with objectively measured AMH values.