Formal fertility preservation program facilitates equitable fertility care among pediatric oncology and stem cell transplant patients

jpedsurg.org

Clinical guidelines recommend discussing infertility risk and referral to fertility preservation (FP) specialists in all patients facing cancer treatment, including children. We sought to determine whether sociodemographic or clinical factors led to differences in referral and utilization of FP services at a children’s hospital with a formal FP program. We hypothesized that sociodemographic differences would exist in FP utilization, but not in referral rates.

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Article · Jun 2025 · 1 min read

In brief

This study examines whether a formal fertility preservation program at a children's hospital ensures equitable access to reproductive health services for pediatric cancer and transplant patients. Researchers investigated if sociodemographic or clinical factors influenced referral patterns and service utilization, hypothesizing that structured programs may reduce disparities in referrals while differences in actual utilization might persist.

Clinical guidelines mandate fertility preservation discussions for all pediatric cancer patients before treatment initiation.
Formal fertility preservation programs at children's hospitals can reduce sociodemographic disparities in referral rates.
The study tested whether structured FP programs eliminate inequities in both referral and actual utilization of fertility services.
Hypothesis: formal programs equalize referrals across demographics, but utilization may still vary by socioeconomic factors.

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