Current Status of Fertility-Sparing Treatment for Gynecological Cancers in Japan: A Nationwide Survey

There is an increasing demand for fertility-sparing treatment (FST) among young women with gynecological cancer. This study aimed to clarify the current status of FST implementation across Japan by focusing on institutional practice patterns and clinical protocols for cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.

A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September 2024. An online questionnaire was distributed to 481 gynecologic tumor registry institutions through the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology mailing list. Data on institutional characteristics, specific FST eligibility criteria, treatment methods, and post-treatment management were collected.

Responses were received from 226 institutions (response rate: 47.0%), and all respondent institutions (100%) performed FST for at least one gynecological cancer. Although FST is widely available, significant heterogeneity in clinical protocols was observed across all three cancers. Key variations among respondent institutions included a low implementation rate of radical trachelectomy for cervical cancer (20.8%), a high rate of post-FST hysterectomy for endometrial cancer (63.6%) compared to cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, and exclusion criteria for patients with hereditary cancer syndromes.

FST is an established practice in Japan; however, there is a lack of consensus regarding its clinical application. These findings provide a critical benchmark for future efforts to standardize care and develop collaborative networks to optimize this essential treatment modality for young patients with gynecological cancer.