Post-treatment parenthood in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors

Attempted and achieved post-treatment parenthood, with or without use of assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs), was assessed in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors treated from 1971-1998, aged below 50 (females) or 65 (males) at diagnosis, aged 18 to 75 at survey. Four treatment groups were constructed: radiotherapy only, low -, medium - and high gonadotoxic chemotherapy (with or without radiotherapy in the three chemotherapy groups). Using Kaplan-Meier estimates, log-rank tests and Cox regression analyses, factors influencing post-treatment parenthood were investigated, with birth of the first child after treatment as the end point. Forty-five per cent (120/269) of males and 50% (91/184) of females reported attempted post-treatment parenthood. Of these, 76 (63%) males and 68 (75%) females had a child without use of ARTs. In addition 10 males and one female achieved post-treatment parenthood with use of ARTs. Treatment group was significantly associated with post-treatment parenthood, with highest probabilities after radiotherapy only and low gonadotoxic chemotherapy. In univariate analyses, age at diagnosis was a significant factor related to post-treatment parenthood in females.