Management of reproductive needs in cancer patients: clinical perspectives

Over the last few decades, a growing number of cancer survivors cured or in long-term remission following successful cancer treatment, have particular reproductive health needs. Achieving or preventing pregnancies, as well as replacement of sex hormone deficiency are three main reproductive issues. Managing such reproductive needs requires a close collaboration between specialists in oncology, reproductive endocrinology and andrology. Currently, there are few collaborative efforts to bridge the gaps between these three subspecialties. Patients are often lost between oncologists who lack the interest in addressing reproductive issues, and reproductive endocrinologists and andrologists, who do not have the clinical practice model to provide emergency consultations for cancer patients or adequate follow-up. On the other hand, there is severe deficiency in patients' education and knowledge regarding the consequences of cancer treatment on their reproductive life and the available modern technologies in reproductive medicine. Perhaps the time has come to build a new medical subspecialty that can address and manage the long-term health needs of cancer survivors, including reproductive needs.