Leena Nahata1,2,3, Taylor L Morgan1, Amanda C Ferrante1, Nicole M Caltabellotta1, Nicholas D Yeager3,4, Joseph R Rausch1,3, Sarah H O'Brien3,4,5, Gwendolyn P Quinn6, Cynthia A Gerhardt1,3. 1. 1 Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. 2. 2 Division of Endocrinology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. 3. 3 Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio. 4. 4 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. 5. 5 Center for Innovation and Pediatric Practice, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio. 6. 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
Abstract
Purpose: Approximately half of all males experience fertility impairment after cancer treatment, which can diminish quality of life. Parents are often responsible for sharing health-related information, and parental recommendation strongly impacts fertility-related decisions; yet it remains unclear whether adolescents and young adults' (AYAs) and their parents' fertility-related goals/attitudes align. This study examined parent-AYAs congruence on fertility-related attitudes and (grand) parenthood goals during survivorship, and if parents were aware of their sons' parenthood goals and reproductive concerns. Methods: Males (15-25 years) and their parents were recruited within 1-8 years of completing cancer treatment. Based on the Health Belief Model, AYAs (N = 38), mothers (N = 33), and fathers (N = 24) reported on parenthood goals, perceived benefits/barriers of fertility testing/preservation, perceived susceptibility/severity of infertility, and fertility knowledge. Analyses included Pearson's correlations and paired-sample t-tests. Results: More than 80% of mothers, fathers, and AYAs desired future (grand) children. Mother-son dyads had differences in fertility knowledge (p = 0.037), and father-son dyads differed in parenthood goals (p = 0.024). AYAs perceived more fertility-related barriers than their mothers (p = 0.014) and fathers (p = 0.006). AYA survivors were less likely to report they could accept a life without a biological child compared with their mothers (p = 0.009) and fathers (p = 0.024). Conclusions: These findings suggest some similarities, yet important differences between male AYA survivors' and their parents' attitudes toward fertility and parenthood. As infertility is common in this population, and is associated with uncertainty and distress, these findings underscore the need for family-centered fertility-related interventions at the time of cancer diagnosis and throughout survivorship.
Purpose: Approximately half of all males experience fertility impairment after cancer treatment, which can diminish quality of life. Parents are often responsible for sharing health-related information, and parental recommendation strongly impacts fertility-related decisions; yet it remains unclear whether adolescents and young adults' (AYAs) and their parents' fertility-related goals/attitudes align. This study examined parent-AYAs congruence on fertility-related attitudes and (grand) parenthood goals during survivorship, and if parents were aware of their sons' parenthood goals and reproductive concerns. Methods: Males (15-25 years) and their parents were recruited within 1-8 years of completing cancer treatment. Based on the Health Belief Model, AYAs (N = 38), mothers (N = 33), and fathers (N = 24) reported on parenthood goals, perceived benefits/barriers of fertility testing/preservation, perceived susceptibility/severity of infertility, and fertility knowledge. Analyses included Pearson's correlations and paired-sample t-tests. Results: More than 80% of mothers, fathers, and AYAs desired future (grand) children. Mother-son dyads had differences in fertility knowledge (p = 0.037), and father-son dyads differed in parenthood goals (p = 0.024). AYAs perceived more fertility-related barriers than their mothers (p = 0.014) and fathers (p = 0.006). AYA survivors were less likely to report they could accept a life without a biological child compared with their mothers (p = 0.009) and fathers (p = 0.024). Conclusions: These findings suggest some similarities, yet important differences between male AYA survivors' and their parents' attitudes toward fertility and parenthood. As infertility is common in this population, and is associated with uncertainty and distress, these findings underscore the need for family-centered fertility-related interventions at the time of cancer diagnosis and throughout survivorship.
Authors: Taylor L Morgan; Braedon P Young; Keagan G Lipak; Vicky Lehmann; James Klosky; Gwendolyn P Quinn; Cynthia A Gerhardt; Leena Nahata Journal: J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol Date: 2020-04-22 Impact factor: 2.223
Authors: Jessica S Flynn; Kathryn M Russell; Vicky Lehmann; Lauren A-M Schenck; James L Klosky Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2020-05-26 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Leena Nahata; Taylor L Morgan; Keagan G Lipak; Olivia E Clark; Nicholas D Yeager; Sarah H O'Brien; Stacy Whiteside; Anthony Audino; Gwendolyn P Quinn; Cynthia A Gerhardt Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2019-08-12 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Leena Nahata; Antoinette Anazodo; Brooke Cherven; Shanna Logan; Lillian R Meacham; Cathy D Meade; Sara Zarnegar-Lumley; Gwendolyn P Quinn Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2020-07-06 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Leena Nahata; Anna Olsavsky; Taylor M Dattilo; Keagan G Lipak; Stacy Whiteside; Nicholas D Yeager; Anthony Audino; Joseph Rausch; James L Klosky; Sarah H O'Brien; Gwendolyn P Quinn; Cynthia A Gerhardt Journal: J Pediatr Psychol Date: 2021-10-18
Authors: Leena Nahata; Taylor M Dattilo; Anna L Olsavsky; Keagan G Lipak; Stacy Whiteside; Nicholas D Yeager; Anthony Audino; James L Klosky; Joseph Rausch; Amanda Saraf; Sarah H O'Brien; Gwendolyn P Quinn; Cynthia A Gerhardt Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.357
Authors: Jianfei Xie; Qian Sun; Yinglong Duan; Qinqin Cheng; Xiaofei Luo; Yi Zhou; Xiangyu Liu; Panpan Xiao; Andy S K Cheng Journal: Cancer Med Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 4.711