Attitudes toward motherhood and social support as predictors of emotional distress in recently diagnosed young women with cancer undergoing fertility preservation

Abstract

Objective. Young women with cancer can benefit from various treatment options for fertility preservation. More work is needed to discern which factors affect psychological outcomes and the decision to undergo fertility preservation for female cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between attitudes toward motherhood, concerns about fertility, satisfaction with information received, social support and emotional distress among young women with cancer undergoing fertility preservation treatment. Method. Cross-sectional administration of instruments (semi-structured interview, Scale of Perceived Social Support, BSI-18) to 115 young women (average age 31 years) newly diagnosed with cancer. Assessment was done on the same day or day after undergoing Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation (OTC). Results. The degree of concern reported by the women when they knew that cancer treatment might affect their reproductive capacity was high. Almost half stated that they would change the treatment-related information they received. Factors influencing their decision to receive OTC include the importance of having a child and maintaining hormonal function. Higher emotional distress was significantly associated with increase desire to have children, belief that having children is necessary for couple´s fulfillment, desire to change the information received, higher degree of concern about the possible loss of fertility, and less perceived social support. Conclusions. Both attitudes to motherhood and social support are factors that determine the emotional distress experienced by young women with cancer when faced with the possible loss of infertility. There is a need to offer fertility preservation counseling to these women.