Ovarian function, fertility and reproductive lifespan in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing survival of girls and young women after cancer has led to a rapid growth in research into assessment of ovarian function after treatment. AREAS COVERED: This aim of this review is to discuss normal ovarian function over time, the impact of cancer treatment on ovarian function, the assessment of ovarian reserve after treatment, and pretreatment predictors of ovarian recovery. EXPERT COMMENTARY: Ovarian function damage after chemotherapy and radiotherapy will impact on fertility and reproductive lifespan, but with great variability. Age at menopause has implications for the duration of estrogen deficiency, with its own adverse health consequences. This has led to identification of the key treatment and patient factors at the time of treatment, notably age and ovarian reserve that impact on post-treatment ovarian function. However, most studies have used outcome measures such as ongoing menses, or biomarkers such as anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), with few reporting on fertility or age at menopause.