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Fertility Preservation and Breast Cancer

  • Clinical Trials (J Lang, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Breast cancer in young women presents many special challenges in both the treatment and survivorship settings. Considering premenopausal state at diagnosis and the trend to delay motherhood, many young women have questions about options to preserve fertility. The goal of this review is to provide background on how treatment of young women with breast cancer can affect fertility and to describe available fertility preservation techniques as well as the role of healthcare providers in addressing these issues.

Recent Findings

Cancer therapies have various gonadal toxicity risks that should be discussed prior to initiation of systemic therapy. The development and advances of various fertility preservation techniques provide choices for patients to consider, and a multidisciplinary approach is key to the informed decision-making process. BRCA mutation carriers may face unique circumstances including loss of fertility due to risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy which is frequently recommended as well as concerns about passing on deleterious genetic mutations to their offspring. Pregnancy after breast cancer does not appear to increase risk of breast cancer recurrence; however, timing pregnancy can be challenging particularly for women on long-term endocrine treatment for their cancer.

Summary

Oncofertility care represents a vital component of the management of young women diagnosed with breast cancer. A variety of approaches are available to improve fertility prospects for these women, and strategies to further advance this field are strongly desired by both patients and providers.

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  1. Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, CA-60, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Erin E. Roesch & Halle C. F. Moore

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  1. Erin E. Roesch
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Roesch, E.E., Moore, H.C.F. Fertility Preservation and Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 13, 197–207 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-021-00420-4

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