Fertility Preservation Services for Adolescents and Young Adults: 2022 National Cancer Institute Community Oncology...

Given the impact of cancer treatment on fertility among adolescents and young adults (AYAs: 15-39 years), it is important to ensure AYAs access to fertility preservation (FP). However, the availability of FP services for AYAs treated in community settings is unknown. We examined FP access at National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice groups.

The 2022 NCORP Landscape Assessment survey captured available resources and cancer care services including FP services at practice groups. We described FP services as accessible (on-site or off-site) versus not accessible by AYA-treating status (as previously defined). Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to evaluate associations between FP services and practice characteristics (NCORP classification [minority/underserved or community] and proportion of Medicaid or uninsured above/below the national average).

Among 271 practice groups responding to the survey, 100 were categorized as AYA-treating, of which 32% had neither male nor female FP services available. Sperm banking was available at 59 AYA-treating practices, among which 43 (73%) referred for sperm banking off-site. Although approximately half of AYA-treating practices reported accessible female FP services (embryo = 54%, oocyte = 55%, ovarian tissue = 40%), most of them referred patients off-site (embryo = 72%, oocyte = 80%, ovarian tissue = 83%). The odds of access to male FP were lower at minority/underserved practices (odds ratio, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.88]; P = .026; ref = community); however, this same relationship was not seen for females.

Despite guidelines surrounding FP discussions before cancer therapy, and strong consensus regarding the importance of FP access, many AYA-treating practices in community settings lack access to FP services. Understanding how to leverage available services and broadly expand access is urgently needed to facilitate guideline-concordant, high-quality cancer care for AYAs.