PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF FERTILITY OUTCOMES AMONG ADULTS’ CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS IN THE LONG TERM RECOVERY, PSYCOLOGICAL ASPECTS, REVIEW OF FOREGN LITERATURE

Abstract

Abstract. A fertility function disturbance is rather high in patients who had childhood cancer and it is caused by the toxic influence of chemotherapy and radiation treatment rather than the illness itself. The threat of fertility function loss may effect survivors’ mental health in the long term, but the knowledge about it is not enough. Purpose: to analyze foreign literature for studying fertility status in adult childhood cancer survivors and the psychological effects regarding this. General information. Fertility function disturbance is more prevalent in a group of patients who underwent cancer in childhood or adolescence than in the total population. It is caused by aggressive treatment of oncological disease. Risk of fertility dysfunction is a strong stressed factor and may lead to such conditions as anxiety, depression and other psychological consequences. All these conditions worsen quality of life, negatively influencing relationships. The moment to make a decision about cryoconservation of oocytes and sperm is a special problem for patients and their parents. This procedure should be performed before chemotherapy starts, meaning that families have little time to make a decision, and information about this side of treatment is not enough to understand the whole real risk of fertility loss in the future. Conclusion. A comprehensive psychological consulting for patients with oncological disease and their parents is necessary at the moment of diagnostics, it should give fully detailed information about the risk of fertility loss in the future and maintenance families while making a decision abou cryoconservation. During convalescence of these patients and their social adaptation to active regular life, psychological consulting plays a very important role in rehabilitation complex, including treatment of anxiety disorder and fears about fertility functions.