Younger, female cancer patients more likely to be counseled on fertility risks

Not all cancer patients who may be at risk of reduced fertility from chemotherapy are told of these risks, according to new research. Scientists surveyed nearly 7,000 cancer patients of reproductive age, and found that fewer than half reported receiving fertility counseling regardless of the particular risk their chemotherapy posed. More than half the women in this group were told about fertility risks, compared to a third of the males. Older patients and those who were seen by physicians in private practices were also less likely to be informed of risks. Nearly half of those in the five states that mandate clinicians talk to cancer patients about fertility preservation reported having this talk, compared to around 40% in states without such a law.