Use of fertility preservation services in female reproductive-aged cancer patients

Objective The objective of the study was to determine the rates and predictors of fertility preservation services among reproductive-aged women with common cancers in the United States. Study Design We used the MarketScan database to identify women 18–45 years of age with lung, breast, colorectal, or cervical cancer who underwent surgery and chemotherapy from 2009 through 2016. Services from 3 months before to 3 months after chemotherapy for evaluation for fertility preservation, laboratory testing for fertility evaluation, and fertility-preserving procedures were captured. Multivariable models were used to assess the factors associated with the use of fertility-preservation services. Results A total of 18,781 women, including 386 cervical, 1372 colorectal, 246 lung, and 16,777 with breast cancer, were identified. In women 18–35 years old, 11.7% underwent evaluation for fertility preservation, 13.7% underwent laboratory testing, and 6.3% pursued fertility-preserving procedures. The rates of office evaluation, laboratory testing, and performance of procedure were 3.3%, 7.5%, and 1.9 % in women aged 36–40 years and 0.5%, 7.2%, and 0.3% in those aged 41–45 years, respectively. The rate of fertility preservation evaluation rose from 1.0% in 2009 to 5.5% in 2016 (risk ratio, 4.66, 95% confidence interval, 2.38–9.11) while use of fertility-preserving procedures increased from 1.0% to 4.6% (risk ratio, 3.84, 95% confidence interval, 1.94–7.59) during the same time period. In a multivariable model, use of any fertility-preserving interventions were more common in patients with breast cancer (adjusted risk ratio, 2.30, 95% confidence interval, 1.30–4.06), those in the Northeast (adjusted risk ratio, 1.24, 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.40), and in younger women (18–35 years) (adjusted risk ratio, 2.59, 95% confidence interval, 2.32–2.89). Conclusion Although limited by lack of information regarding cancer stage and desire for future fertility, only a small fraction of reproductive-aged female cancer patients receiving chemotherapy are evaluated in a nationwide sample for fertility preservation or undergo fertility-preserving procedures.