Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40113637›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Behind closed doors: a qualitative study exploring the content of fertility discussions between oncologists and their adolescent and young adult cancer patients from the perspective of oncologists at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

Julia Stal, Charleen I Roche, Serena Y Yi, David R Freyer, Rachel C Ceasar, Sue E Kim, Joel E Milam, Kimberly A Miller

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Counseling and use of surrogacy among cancer survivors (CUSACS).Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026
    Article
  2. Perceived Versus Demonstrated Oncofertility Knowledge Among Oncology Providers.Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Julia StalDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. julia_stal@dfci.harvard.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7911-7388
Charleen I RocheDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5916-6503
Serena Y YiDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
David R FreyerDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5280-990X
Rachel C CeasarDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
Sue E KimDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
Joel E MilamDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Medicine, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9489-8015
Kimberly A MillerDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1845 N Soto St. Third Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0742-3730

Funding

USC/NORRIS COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER (CORE) SUPPORTP30CA014089 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Fumito Ito · 1985 to 2026
$181.4M
Fertility experiences among ethnically diverse adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A population-based studyF99CA284291 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI STAL, JULIA · 2023 to 2023
$49k
NCI F99/K00 Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award 1F99CA284291-01NCI NIH HHS F99 CA284291NCI NIH HHS P30 CA014089NCI NIH HHS P30CA014089
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo qualitatively explore the content of fertility discussions between oncologists and their adolescent and young adult (AYA; 15-39 years) cancer patients from the perspective of oncologists at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

methodsWe recruited oncologists of various specialties employed at an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in California who treat AYAs at risk for infertility. We collected demographics and fertility-related information (if they discuss fertility with AYA patients and level of confidence doing so) via REDCap prior to conducting a semi-structured interview via HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Audio files were transcribed verbatim and reviewed for themes using an inductive codebook thematic analysis approach.

resultsOncologists (n = 12) were female (66.7%), of White or Asian race (41.7% each), and were on average in practice for 14.3 years (SD = 6.7). All endorsed discussing fertility with AYAs and were on average somewhat/fairly confident doing so. The detail with which oncologists reported discussing fertility with AYAs varied substantially and only some reported discussing costs associated with fertility preservation. Oncologists also reported assorted information they always mention, mention on a case-by-case basis, avoid, or feel is not necessary when discussing fertility.

conclusionThis study provides a detailed description of information delivered by oncologists during fertility discussions to their AYA patients, revealing unstandardized oncofertility counseling. Fertility discussions were described to vary widely in depth and content, suggesting adherence to clinical practice guidelines limited. Interventions to increase provision of guideline-concordant counseling are needed to provide actionable pathways by which AYAs can proactively mitigate adverse reproductive health outcomes.

Indexed as

Fertility PreservationNeoplasmsOncologistsPhysician-Patient RelationsAdolescentAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelCaliforniaCancer Care FacilitiesFemaleFertilityHumansInterviews as TopicMaleNational Cancer Institute (U.S.)Qualitative ResearchAdolescents and young adultsCancer care deliveryCancer survivorshipOncofertilityReproductive health

Identifiers

PMID40113637
PMCPMC11925993

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.