Evaluating the impact of fertility preservation on breast cancer and pregnancy outcomes in young women with breast cancer.

This study evaluated the impact of fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation on breast cancer and pregnancy outcomes in young women with breast cancer (BC). The data showed that fertility preservation was safe and did impact BC outcomes.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. Many BCs are influenced by female sex hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone. Treatments for these types of BCs often involve an inhibition of these hormones. BC treatment in young women has been known to result in issues with fertility and menstruation.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is a chemical produced by the brain to stimulate the ovaries to release other hormones involved in reproduction. Recent studies have suggested that using drugs that activate GnRH (GnRH agonists) like triptorelin (Trelstar) during chemotherapy can preserve ovarian function in premenopausal patients with BC. However, the impact of fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation on BC outcomes and pregnancy outcomes in young women with BC is not known.

This study involved 153 women with BC. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 71 patients who received fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation treatment. Group 2 included 82 patients who did not receive fertility preservation. The average follow-up time was 4.1 years.

Patients in group 1 were more likely to be able to carry out their daily performance without any restrictions compared to patients in group 2 (99% vs 88%). Patients in group 1 were more likely to receive chemotherapy compared to patients in group 2 (93% vs 67%). These differences were statistically significant.

There were no differences in the survival without cancer recurrence and overall survival between the two groups.

Patients in group 1 were 3 times more likely to conceive at least once compared to patients in group 2.

This study concluded that fertility preservation with ovarian stimulation treatment was safe and did not negatively impact breast cancer outcomes in young women with BC. Patients who underwent fertility preservation were more likely to become pregnant after BC.

This study looked back in time at medical records. The sample size was very small. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings.