Préservation de la fertilité en oncologie : bilan des pratiques en Région PACA-Corse Fertility preservation among patients with cancer: Report of a French regional practical experience

Summary Objective. — Improvement in cancer treatments has led to reconsider the importance of qua-lity of life after cancer, especially concerning maintening the potential of fertility since it isoften altered after healing. Our objective was to estimate the knowledge and practices of thephysicians in the field of Oncology in a French Region (Provence Alpes- Cote d’Azur). andmethod.— Prospective survey, conducted between January April 2012,amongst oncologists working in Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur region, through questionnairesdistributed during multidisciplinary meetings in oncology. Results. — Among 225 replies, 54% of the physicians had sent no patient to any oncofertilityconsultation during the previous six months ( n =120). Besides, 33% of the oncologists ( n =68)declared they had difficulties in addressing their patients to oncofertility consultation, and 58%of them ( n =39) considered they lacked information on techniques and indications of fertilitypreservation. Conclusion. — This study provides an estimation of the current practices in PACA region concer-ning oncofertility and underlines the physicians’ need of information. In this context, theregional oncology network has set up a regional network «cancer and fertility» in order tofacilitate the access to fertility preservation prior to any potentially sterilizing treatment forall patients.© 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.