The World Health Organisation recognises the individual's right to make informed and responsible decisions about having children. As survival rates from cancer increase, there has been an increasing recognition that many cancer therapies convey a high risk of infertility.
Infertility is a very significant adverse outcome for a young person and has been shown to be the greatest cause of future distress. The likelihood of infertility depends on the type, dose and duration of treatment, as well as age and gender. In 2013, the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia stated, “Cancer treatment teams, fertility specialists and other key stakeholders should work together to preserve and optimise the future reproductive capacity of young people diagnosed with cancer”.
Oncofertility, or Fertility Preservation prior to (or post) cancer treatment is still a relatively new discipline. In Australia, there are no universal guidelines. Service provision depends on a patient's geographical location, socio-economic status, age and the awareness of Oncofertility by the treating health care professionals. This inequity must be addressed.
In 2022, various clinicians and researchers around Australia were fortunate enough to obtain funding from an MRFF project entitled "Developing a framework for clinical practice guidelines in paediatric Oncofertility centres". This presentation will discuss the pathways to development of standard practice guidelines in each state, as well as the enablers and barriers to Oncofertility. Fertility preservation options (E.g. gamete and embryo freezing, testicular and ovarian tissue cryopreservation and the emergence of IVM (In vitro Maturation) will be explored.
Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that all patients - regardless of where they live or how much they earn - have access to the same outcome. A robust, informative interdisciplinary discussion about Fertility Preservation has the potential to enrich life after cancer; regardless of the patient's decision.