Systematic review of fertility-related psychological distress in cancer patients: Informing on an improved model of care

Abstract

Objective: Cancer patients experience reproductive concerns from diagnosis through to survivorship. However, research has yet to investigate the degree of fertility-related psychological distress at different treatment time points: diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Currently, cancer patients are offered fertility counselling at the time of diagnosis, to assist fertility preservation decision making. A systematic review of the short-term and long-term psychological impact of infertility in cancer patients would inform on an improved, longitudinal model of psychological care. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in January 2018 utilising electronic databases Medli..