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. 2023 May 1;129(9):1432-1442.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.34685. Epub 2023 Mar 7.

Desire for children among male survivors of childhood cancer: A DCCSS LATER study

Joyce J M Claessens  1   2 , Adriaan Penson  1   2 , Ewald M Bronkhorst  3 , Leontien C M Kremer  4   5   6 , Eline van Dulmen-den Broeder  7   8 , Margriet van der Heiden-van der Loo  4 , Wim J E Tissing  4 , Helena J H van der Pal  4 , Nicole M A Blijlevens  9 , Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink  4 , A Birgitta Versluys  4 , Dorine Bresters  3 , Cécile M Ronckers  4   10 , Iris Walraven  3 , Catharina C M Beerendonk  11 , Jacqueline J Loonen  1 ; Dutch LATER Study Group
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Free article

Desire for children among male survivors of childhood cancer: A DCCSS LATER study

Joyce J M Claessens et al. Cancer. .
Free article

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the desire for children among childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) is scarce. This study evaluated the desire for children in male CCSs in comparison with male siblings.

Methods: A nationwide cohort study was conducted as part of the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study LATER study: 1317 male CCSs and 407 male sibling controls completed a questionnaire addressing the desire for children. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the independent association between survivorship status and the desire for children. Furthermore, additional analyses were performed to identify which cancer-related factors were associated with the desire for children in male CCSs.

Results: After adjustments for the age at assessment, the percentage of men who had a desire for children was significantly lower among CCSs compared with the siblings (74% vs. 82%; odds ratio [OR], 0.61; 95% CI, 0.46-0.82; p = .001). The association between survivorship status and the desire for children was attenuated after adjustments for marital status, level of education, and employment status (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.61-1.14; p = .250). The percentage of men who had an unfulfilled desire for children remained significantly higher among CCSs compared with the siblings after adjustments for sociodemographic factors (25% vs. 7%; OR, 5.14; 95% CI, 2.48-10.64; p < .001).

Conclusions: The majority of male CCSs have a desire for children. The likelihood of having to deal with an unfulfilled desire for children is 5 times higher among CCSs compared with their siblings. This insight is important for understanding the needs and experienced problems of CCSs regarding family planning and fertility issues.

Keywords: childhood cancer survivors; desire for children; infertility; male; reproductive behavior.

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References

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