Fertility preservation and mental health among cancer patients of reproductive age.

Many cancer patients and survivors of reproductive age report parenthood as one of their most important life goals. As a result, infertility, interruption to childbearing, or inability to conceive can have profound negative mental health impacts for this population, who often report fertility-related distress, depression, anxiety, and reproductive concerns. Most patients who preserve fertility report feeling confident in their decision, even if preservation outcomes are not favorable, whereas patients who do not preserve fertility report higher rates of decisional regret. Integrating mental health into clinical models of oncofertility care delivery is critical to ensure that patients with new, persistent, or worsening psychological symptoms are captured and appropriately cared for. We aim to underscore the importance of supportive mental health care provided in tandem with reproductive health care for reproductive-aged cancer patients and survivors before, during, and after treatment.