Closing the Gap: The Need for Fertility Intervention for Young Adult Cancer Survivors

J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2025 Jan 20. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2024.0126. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The current study identified the fertility-related needs of young adult (YA; ages 19-39) survivors. Participants (n = 94) completed the Adolescent and Young Adult Survivorship Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool-a screening tool developed to assess cancer-related concerns of YAs in survivorship. Approximately one-third of survivors endorsed fertility-related concerns. Frequency of fertility-related concerns was endorsed in descending order: "not knowing fertility status/options," "cost of fertility treatment," "discussing fertility with others," and "grief over fertility." Relationship between fertility concerns and other commonly reported survivorship concerns was identified. Findings highlight a gap in care for fertility-related needs in post-treatment survivorship care for YAs.

Keywords: oncofertility; survivorship care; unmet needs; young adults.