BACKGROUND: Since prevalence of and reasons for infertility were unclear in survivors of childhood cancer we conducted a two centre survey in 2006 and nationwide in 2008. In 2008/2009 we undertook a study entitled "Hormone and Sperm Analyses after Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence". PATIENTS AND METHODS: Letters were sent to 748 former paediatric oncological patients who were at least 18 years of age at the time of the survey. Serum and sperm samples were analysed. RESULTS: We obtained 159 blood samples (86 women, 73 men). 42 men took part in the sperm analyses. The average participants' age at the time of the survey was 25 years. The anti-Mullerian hormone levels (AMH) in 14/86 female participants (16 %) were < 0.1 ng/ml. The follicular reserve of these women seemed manifestly impaired, which is consistent with suspected infertility. The AMH levels in 21/86 women (24 %) were 0.1 - 1.0 ng/ml indicating limited follicular reserve and therefore suspected early ovarian failure. Inhibin B levels of < 80 pg/ml and FSH levels of > 10 IU/L were found in 23/73 male participants (32 %), which may indicate impaired spermiogenesis with increased risk of infertility. 13/42 sperm analyses (31 %) revealed azoospermia. DISCUSSION: Paediatric oncological therapy seems to have led to fertility impairment in about 1/3 of the participants. Considering this serious impairment, patients and their families should be given comprehensive counselling ahead of therapy to enable fertility-preserving measures. For persons who wish to have children after undergoing therapy we recommend a hormone and sperm analysis. An early analysis may enable a more successful family planning.
BACKGROUND: Since prevalence of and reasons for infertility were unclear in survivors of childhood cancer we conducted a two centre survey in 2006 and nationwide in 2008. In 2008/2009 we undertook a study entitled "Hormone and Sperm Analyses after Chemo- and Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence". PATIENTS AND METHODS: Letters were sent to 748 former paediatric oncological patients who were at least 18 years of age at the time of the survey. Serum and sperm samples were analysed. RESULTS: We obtained 159 blood samples (86 women, 73 men). 42 men took part in the sperm analyses. The average participants' age at the time of the survey was 25 years. The anti-Mullerian hormone levels (AMH) in 14/86 female participants (16 %) were < 0.1 ng/ml. The follicular reserve of these women seemed manifestly impaired, which is consistent with suspected infertility. The AMH levels in 21/86 women (24 %) were 0.1 - 1.0 ng/ml indicating limited follicular reserve and therefore suspected early ovarian failure. Inhibin B levels of < 80 pg/ml and FSH levels of > 10 IU/L were found in 23/73 male participants (32 %), which may indicate impaired spermiogenesis with increased risk of infertility. 13/42 sperm analyses (31 %) revealed azoospermia. DISCUSSION: Paediatric oncological therapy seems to have led to fertility impairment in about 1/3 of the participants. Considering this serious impairment, patients and their families should be given comprehensive counselling ahead of therapy to enable fertility-preserving measures. For persons who wish to have children after undergoing therapy we recommend a hormone and sperm analysis. An early analysis may enable a more successful family planning.
Authors: Daniel M Green; Wei Liu; William H Kutteh; Raymond W Ke; Kyla C Shelton; Charles A Sklar; Wassim Chemaitilly; Ching-Hon Pui; James L Klosky; Sheri L Spunt; Monika L Metzger; DeoKumar Srivastava; Kirsten K Ness; Leslie L Robison; Melissa M Hudson Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2014-09-16 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Wendy van Dorp; Renée L Mulder; Leontien C M Kremer; Melissa M Hudson; Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink; Marleen H van den Berg; Jennifer M Levine; Eline van Dulmen-den Broeder; Natascia di Iorgi; Assunta Albanese; Saro H Armenian; Smita Bhatia; Louis S Constine; Andreas Corrias; Rebecca Deans; Uta Dirksen; Clarisa R Gracia; Lars Hjorth; Leah Kroon; Cornelis B Lambalk; Wendy Landier; Gill Levitt; Alison Leiper; Lillian Meacham; Alesandro Mussa; Sebastian J Neggers; Kevin C Oeffinger; Alberto Revelli; Hanneke M van Santen; Roderick Skinner; Andrew Toogood; William H Wallace; Riccardo Haupt Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2016-07-25 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: Simone Reinmuth; Cynthia Hohmann; Rosa Rendtorff; Magdalena Balcerek; Steve Holzhausen; Andreas Müller; Günter Henze; Thomas Keil; Anja Borgmann-Staudt Journal: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol Date: 2013-10-02 Impact factor: 4.553