Fertility Preservation Survey: Hemato-Oncologists

Chemotherapy treatment may cause loss of reproductive organ function, premature ovarian failure or the inability to produce mature eggs. Reliably predicting post-treatment ovarian reserve and obtaining post-treatment infertility statistics are difficult.
This survey aims to better understand oncologists’ knowledge of, and attitudes toward fertility preservation for patients with malignancies. Published survey results will help fertility treatment providers and oncologists develop optimized fertility preservation approaches and strategies.
Please take a moment to complete this important survey. A similar survey is being conducted among IVF providers.
Mohamad Mohty, Arnon Nagler, Rafael Duarte

If there is a risk of infertility following treatment for a malignancy, do you inform your patients?
  • Yes, I inform patients
  • Yes, team members inform the patients
  • I leave it to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) team
  • No

 

Please estimate the percentage of your male patients under the age of 40 who are referred to fertility preservation.
  • 90%
  • 70%
  • 50%
  • 30%
  • 10%

 

Please estimate the percentage of your female patients under the age of 40 who are referred to fertility preservation.
  • 90%
  • 70%
  • 50%
  • 30%
  • 10%

 

Of your young female cancer patients (≤ 40 years old) who underwent treatment that may have adversely affected their future fertility, what is the percentage who actually benefited from a fertility preservation procedure?
  • More than 70%
  • 50% to 70%
  • 40%
  • 30%
  • 10% to 20%
  • 5% to 10%
  • Less than 5%

 

Is there a lower age limit under which you do not refer to fertility preservation?
  • 3
  • 5
  • 7
  • 9
  • 11
  • 13
  • 15
  • 17
  • 19
  • Other

 

In your opinion, what should the age limit be for fertility preservation procedures for your female patients?
  • None
  • Above 35
  • Above 37
  • Above 40
  • Above 42

 

Do you have a specific clinic that you refer to or do the patients choose their own in vitro fertilization clinic?
  • I have a specific clinic I refer my patients to
  • I refer the patients to the clinic they choose
  • The patients usually go on their own to fertility clinics
  • I am not involved in fertility preservation

 

Do you communicate with the reproductive medicine provider when referring the patient?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I am not involved in a fertility preservation program

 

Do you follow up with the patients you referred while they are receiving fertility preservation treatment?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I am not involved in a fertility preservation program

 

In your country, funding for this treatment is covered by:
  • The social security program (the government)
  • Insurance
  • The patient
  • Other
  • I do not know

 

If the disease and situation allow fertility preservation treatment:
  • I refer the patient immediately
  • I start oncology treatment and then refer the patient
  • Other
  • I am not involved in fertility preservation

 

In your opinion, for most of the patients who are referred to fertility preservation, for how long can oncology treatment can be deferred?
  • Cannot be deferred
  • 10 days
  • 20 days
  • 30 days
  • As needed for fertility preservation
  • Other
  • I am not involved in fertility preservation treatment

 

Do you think that hormonal treatment for fertility preservation can aggravate the malignant disease?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I don't know

 

In your country, are there any local/national guidelines on fertility preservation for patients with malignancies?
  • Yes
  • No
  • I don't know

 

Statement: Fertility preservation is a high priority for me to discuss with female patients newly diagnosed with a malignancy.
  • Agree
  • Neither agrees nor disagrees
  • Disagree

 

Statement: In female patients with malignancies, treating the primary malignancy is more important than fertility preservation.
  • Agree
  • Neither agrees nor disagrees
  • Disagree

 

Statement: The success rate of fertility preservation in female patients with malignancies is not yet good enough to make fertility preservation an available option.
  • Agree
  • Neither agrees nor disagrees
  • Disagree

 

In your opinion, would you like to have international/national guidelines for fertility preservation procedures?
  • Yes
  • No need for this
  • I have no opinion in this regard