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Men and women receive different fertility counseling following cancer diagnoses

Category: Infertility Testing-Male

It is common for individuals who are undergoing treatment for cancer to receive FSH test results indicating they have impaired fertility. However, a new study indicates that a patient's gender may determine the amount of information doctors provide regarding methods to preserve fertility.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen surveyed 16 men and 18 women who had recent been diagnosed with cancer to find out what their experiences had been like. In particular, the researchers wanted to see what type of fertility counseling patients received.

The results showed that most men were given a significant amount of information on freezing their sperm prior to undergoing chemotherapy in order to preserve fertility. However, few women recalled receiving any information about strategies they could use to maintain reproductive health.

The researchers asked a group of physicians why fertility consultations would differ among men and women. These professionals tended to agree that cancers affecting females typically require more rapid treatment than male-specific cancer. This meant that many women may have been rushed into therapy before they could be counseled on its impact on fertility.