Counseling Adolescents About Fertility
There are a variety of factors which affect the content and timing of
fertility counseling among adolescent cancer survivors. These factors
may include patient sex, pubertal status, developmental level, cognitive
capacity, psychological functioning and patient/family desire for
information. Studies suggest that AYA patients prefer that information
about their disease and cancer-related risks are communicated in a
positive, respectful, and non-judgmental manner.(83) As adolescents are
familiar with searching for information on the internet, it may also be
helpful to provide them with reliable and recommended age-appropriate
online resources, translated to their native languages if needed.(20,84)
Peer support programs to assist adolescent survivors have been shown to
promote positive psychosocial growth,(20) and may also be an option for
broaching the topic of fertility. Key considerations for discussing
fertility with AYA cancer survivors are outlined in table 3.