EC Gynaecology

The potential of cancer treatment-related infertility can be devastating for women of reproductive age with the desire for future biological children. This prognosis is often met with emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and depression and can adversely affect treatment decisions. Fertility preservation counseling prior to the commencement of reproductive cancer treatments has been associated with an increase of quality of life and emotional well-being; however, disparities in access exist for women newly diagnosed with cancer and residing in rural areas in the United States compared to their urban counterparts. Arguments can therefore be made for expanding access to telehealth fertility preservation counseling for women of reproductive age following a reproductive cancer diagnosis. There is an opportunity to further research the barriers and facilitators to adoption of telehealth fertility preservation counseling for women newly diagnosed with reproductive cancer in rural settings and explore if this type of telehealth intervention can help alleviate the emotional distress caused by the potential of fertility loss.

Keywords: Reproductive Cancer; Treatment-Related Fertility Loss; Fertility Preservation Counseling; Telehealth; Survivorship; Rural America

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