Fertility Preservation Awareness among Oncology Patients: Influencing Factors

Mousa, Ola; Jaramillo, Joanne; Hassan A. Alghanem, Manal

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2025.440628

Fertility Preservation Awareness among Oncology Patients: Influencing Factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Woman’s Health and Obstetrics Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Minia University, Egypt.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Qatar.

³ RN, King Faisal general hospital, Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/ejhc.2025.440628

Abstract

Background: Fertility preservation (FP) is becoming a crucial component of cancer management due to concerns over cancer therapy's effect on fertility. Given the trend towards delayed childbearing and cancer diagnoses before family completion, FP is becoming increasingly necessary. There have been exponential increases in FP options over the past decade. It is important to understand FP consult practice patterns in order to provide patients with efficient service. Aim: This study examined patients' specific awareness regarding FP as well as factors associated with FP counselling among female cancer patients. Methods: This was a single-centre prospective questionnaire study that included women of reproductive age (18-50 years) with cancer of any type. It was conducted at Minia Oncology Centre. This study took place between September 2024 and January 2025. The Fertility Preservation Knowledge Scale is used as the main tool. Results: Study participants included 365 female cancer patients. In total, 28 participants (7.7%) had high knowledge levels, 231 (63.3%) had mild knowledge levels, and 106 (29.0%) had low knowledge levels. There was a low to moderate level of knowledge about the topic among approximately 92% of the participants in the study. A total of 155 (42.5%) of the study sample received no fertility and reproductive health counselling from the healthcare providers. There is a significant correlation between the number of children, the duration of cancer, the educational level, and the frequency of routine medical checks and FP options and services knowledge. Conclusion: Based on the study, the patient did not have a thorough understanding of FP options and services. Recommendation: For patients to be aware of such a crucial point in their lives, there is a need for proper counselling. Enhancing counselling will help patients make better reproductive choices and support their decision-making about FP and reproductive choices.

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