Reproductive Health

Improving Fertility Discussions and Decision-Making for Adolescent Males With Cancer
Improving Fertility Discussions and Decision-Making for Adolescent Males With Cancer 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

 A pilot study shows promise in enhancing shared decision-making and patient satisfaction through family-centered support. Fertility preservation is a critical yet underutilized aspect of cancer care for adolescent males. Despite being a medically low-risk and effective option, only a minority of young patients attempt sperm banking. Barriers exist at both the system and individual/family levels,…

Featured Researcher — Leena Nahata, MD
Featured Researcher — Leena Nahata, MD 150 150 Natalie Wilson

Pediatric endocrinologist Leena Nahata, MD, is the founder and medical director of the Fertility and Reproductive Health Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and a principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s. Although fertility-related decisions can seem far away for children, adolescents and their families, many…

Starting the Conversation on Sickle Cell Disease and Reproductive Health
Starting the Conversation on Sickle Cell Disease and Reproductive Health 1024 575 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease — and their caregivers — care about future fertility. But what should doctors tell them? Until just a few decades ago, sickle cell disease (SCD) was often fatal in childhood. Now that more patients reach adulthood, clinicians and researchers need to ask — and answer — questions…

Counseling Pediatric Patients on Fertility and Sexual Function
Counseling Pediatric Patients on Fertility and Sexual Function 150 150 Brianne Moore

How should we talk to patients and their families about these sensitive subjects? Since 2006, several medical societies have released guidelines for discussing fertility preservation prior to pediatric cancer treatment. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a “collaborative, multidisciplinary team approach” is vital for informing minors whose chemotherapy may affect their fertility status…