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Chemotherapy and Fertility

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Cancer and Fertility

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Urology ((CCU))

Abstract

The development of effective treatment options for young patients with malignancy has created a shift in focus from cancer cure to survivorship and management of long-term toxicities. Future fertility is an important long-term outcome for cancer patients of reproductive age. Chemotherapy can reduce fertility by direct insult to the male and female reproductive organs or to the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. The effect of chemotherapeutic agents on fertility depends on the agent used, the age and pubertal status of the patient, the dose and duration of treatment, and differences in gonadal sensitivity among different patients (Chatzidarellis et al., Fertility and Sterility 94(2): 558–563, 2010). It is essential for providers to understand the impact of chemotherapy regimens on fertility for patients with reproductive potential.

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Abbreviations

ABVD:

Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine

AFC:

Antral follicle count

ALL:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia

AMH:

Anti-Mullerian hormone

AML:

Acute myeloid leukemia

BEACOPP:

Bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone

BEP:

Bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin

ChlVPP:

Chlorambucil, vinblastine, procarbazine, prednisolone

CHOP:

Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone

COPP:

Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone

CTX:

Cyclophosphamide

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

HL:

Hodgkin’s lymphoma

MOGCT:

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumor

MOPP:

Nitrogen mustard, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone

NHL:

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

TGCT:

Testicular germ cell tumor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Q-10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Sarah C. Vij M.D.

  2. Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, R35, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Timothy Gilligan M.D., M.S.

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Correspondence to Sarah C. Vij M.D. .

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  1. Lerner College of Medi, Cleveland Clinic, Department of Urology, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Edmund S. Sabanegh, Jr.

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Vij, S.C., Gilligan, T. (2016). Chemotherapy and Fertility. In: Sabanegh, Jr., E. (eds) Cancer and Fertility. Current Clinical Urology. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27711-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27711-0_7

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