Congruence of Reproductive Goals and Fertility-Related Attitudes of Adolescent and Young Adult Males and Their Parents After Cancer Treatment

摘要

Purpose: Approximately half of all males experience fertility impairment after cancer treatment, which can diminish quality of life. Parents are often responsible for sharing health-related information, and parental recommendation strongly impacts fertility-related decisions; yet it remains unclear whether adolescents and young adults' (AYAs) and their parents' fertility-related goals/attitudes align. This study examined parent-AYAs congruence on fertility-related attitudes and (grand) parenthood goals during survivorship, and if parents were aware of their sons' parenthood goals and reproductive concerns.Methods: Males (15-25 years) and their parents were recruited within 1-8 years of completing cancer treatment. Based on the Health Belief Model, AYAs (N=38), mothers (N=33), and fathers (N=24) reported on parenthood goals, perceived benefits/barriers of fertility testing/preservation, perceived susceptibility/severity of infertility, and fertility knowledge. Analyses included Pearson's correlations and paired-sample f-tests. Results: More than 80% of mothers, fathers, and AYAs desired future (grand) children. Mother-son dyads had differences in fertility knowledge (p = 0.037), and father-son dyads differed in parenthood goals (p = 0.024). AYAs perceived more fertility-related barriers than their mothers (p = 0.014) and fathers (p-0.006). AYA survivors were less likely to report they could accept a life without a biological child compared with their mothers (p = 0.009) and fathers (p = 0.024).