A review of the incidence and survival of childhood and adolescent cancer and the effects of treatment on future fertility and endocrine development

Abstract

Cancer is not uncommon in children. The reproductive system is an important site for late effects of cancer treatment, and normal pubertal development depends on an undamaged hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Fertility compromise can occur due to chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, or surgery. Cryopreservation techniques of germ cells are improving and may offer hope for fertility preservation.