Fertility Inequalities in European Cancer Care: Insights from Youth Cancer Europe

Following the objectives set out in their White Paper published in 2018, Youth Cancer Europe launched a Survey on Awareness and Accessibility to Fertility Preservation Procedures in Europe, to better understand young people’s awareness on fertility preservation and its relationship to quality of life and mental health. The survey outcomes revealed notable cancer-related fertility disparities among European countries and healthcare systems and indicated findings on young people’s mental health and quality of life compromised by fertility-related distress, which should be monitored throughout the cancer continuum. Respondents who were not informed about available fertility services reported the lowest quality of life, fertility-related concerns greatly impacting their level of anxiety and depression. The study revealed that about 28% cancer patients did not discuss medical options for fertility preservation with their healthcare provider, with the Eastern European Countries reporting the lowest rates of involvement in fertility discussions.