American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 2 , Pages 191.e1-191.e4, August 2009

Reproductive health assessment for women with cancer: a pilot study

Presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Chicago, IL, June 1-5, 2007.

  • Ashlesha Patel, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Ashlesha Patel, MD, Director of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1900 W Polk St., Room #1217, Chicago, IL 60612
    • ,
  • Mini Sreedevi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Radha Malapati, MD

      Affiliations

    • Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Rachana Sutaria, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Monique Brown Schoenhage, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Family Planning, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Ashok R. Patel, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Medical Oncology, Illinois Masonic Hospital, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Erika K. Radeke, BA

      Affiliations

    • Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program, Department of Surgery, John H. Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
    • ,
  • Howard A. Zaren, MD, FACS

      Affiliations

    • NCCCP Pilot Program at Nancy N. and J. C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion at St. Joseph's/Candler Hospital, Savannah, GA

Received 5 November 2008; received in revised form 31 January 2009; accepted 9 April 2009. published online 19 June 2009.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to pilot a survey instrument and to develop descriptive data about the reproductive goals of reproductive-aged women (15-44 years) with cancer.

Study Design

This was a cross-sectional pilot survey study of 20 women who were diagnosed with various types of cancers at the oncology clinic of Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, from January-July 2006.

Results

Of the 20 patients whose cases were surveyed, the mean age was 36.6 years, and 90% of the women had breast cancer. Ten percent of patients would continue pregnancy, if they became pregnant while receiving treatment. Contraception was used by 55% of patients (n = 11), of whom 55% of the women (n = 6) were using abstinence.

Conclusion

The result of this pilot study demonstrates the need for reproductive health counseling in women with cancer; the range of discussion must include fertility interest, contraception, and fertility preservation.

Key words: cancer, contraception, fertility, reproductive health

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 Cite this article as: Patel A, Sreedevi M, Malapati R, et al. Reproductive health assessment for women with cancer: a pilot study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:191.e1-4.

 Authorship and contribution to the article is limited to the 8 authors indicated. There was no outside funding or technical assistance with the production of this article.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00407-4

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2009.04.021

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 2 , Pages 191.e1-191.e4, August 2009

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