Psychological Aspects Associated With Fertility Preservation in Oncology: An Exploratory Study

Overview

Journal Front Psychol

Date 2021 Jan 8

PMID 33414749

Citations 8

Authors

Valentina Elisabetta Di Mattei

Gaia Perego

Paola Maria Vittoria Rancoita

Paola Taranto

Letizia Carnelli

Giorgia Mangili

Veronica Sarais

Alice Bergamini

Massimo Candiani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Gonadotoxicity is considered one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. Although fertility preservation can be a valid solution, it also involves a challenging process. A clear understanding of the features of women who decide to pursue fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis is missing. The purpose of the present study was therefore to analyze the personality profile of female patients referred to oncofertility prior to gonadotoxic treatment.

Methods: Fifty-two female cancer patients took part in the study. The Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the Response Evaluation Measure-71 (REM-71), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Y Form (STAI-Y) were administered to examine personality characteristics, defense mechanisms, depression and anxiety symptoms.

Results: Compared with reference data of the Italian population, our sample reported significantly lower scores in Harm Avoidance and trait anxiety, and significantly higher levels of mature defense mechanisms. Most of the patients reported low scores in immature defense mechanisms, depression, and trait anxiety, and medium scores in state anxiety.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that these women display functional personality traits and defensive style, in association with low levels of depression and trait anxiety. These features may enable a proactive attitude to cancer and the ability to make long-term plans. This may favor psychological adjustment to cancer and a projection toward the future.

Citing Articles

Fertility Preservation in Children and Adolescents during Oncological Treatment-A Review of Healthcare System Factors and Attitudes of Patients and Their Caregivers.

Pawlowski P, Zietara K, Michalczyk J, Fryze M, Buchacz A, Zaucha-Prazmo A Cancers (Basel). 2023; 15(17).

PMID: 37686669 PMC: 10487203. DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174393.

Identification of Psychological Profiles of Cancer Patients Undergoing Fertility Preservation Counseling.

Di Mattei V, Taranto P, Perego G, Desimone S, Rancoita P, Catarinella A J Clin Med. 2023; 12(12).

PMID: 37373703 PMC: 10299403. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12124011.

Response to Controlled Ovarian Stimulation Is Not Impaired in Young Patients with a Sarcoma: Results from a Monocentric Case-Control Study.

Cioffi R, Pagliardini L, Quartucci A, Papaleo E, Vanni V, Provenzano S Cancers (Basel). 2023; 15(12).

PMID: 37370751 PMC: 10296331. DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123141.

Large Pelvic Mass in a Female Adolescent: Atypical Presentation and Successful Treatment of Extraskeletal Ewing Sarcoma.

Perelli F, Vizzielli G, Cavaliere A, Restaino S, Scambia G, Zannoni G Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11(10).

PMID: 37239656 PMC: 10218326. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101373.

Psychological issues in breast cancer survivors confronted with motherhood: Literature review and a call to action.

Di Mattei V, Perego G, Taranto P, Mazzetti M, Ferrari F, Derna N Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1133204.

PMID: 36960007 PMC: 10029924. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133204.

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