Fertility preservation in female cancer patients in Brazil: perceptions and attitudes of infertility specialists

Sep 21, 2026

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Fertility preservation is treated as a key priority in oncology for women facing cancer, yet communication gaps can limit coordinated care between infertility specialists and oncologists. This online survey assessed infertility specialists’ perceptions, experiences, and clinical practices regarding fertility preservation. Responses came from 30.9% of invited specialists, mainly in southern and southeastern Brazil. Among eligible reproductive-aged patients, 60.3% reported undergoing preservation, with cost, oncologists’ knowledge or acceptance, and accessibility identified as leading barriers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

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Introduction

Fertility preservation overview and candidates

Fertility preservation options and Brazilian context

Original article Fertility preservation in female cancer patients in Brazil: perceptions and attitudes of infertility specialists Renata Lack Ranniger1 [https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0813-9634](https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0813-9634) Rívia Mara Lamaita2,3 [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9389-3316](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9389-3316) Bárbara Flecha D’Abreu2 [https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5223-8051](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5223-8051) Mariana Rodrigues Tolentino3 [https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5770-1350](https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5770-1350) Eduardo Batista Cândido2 [https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-6654](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-6654) Warne Pedro Andrade1 [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1056-6169](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1056-6169) Angélica Nogueira-Rodrigues4 [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3405-8310](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3405-8310) Agnaldo Lopes Silva-Filho1,2 [https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8486-7861](https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8486-7861) 1Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mastology, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 3Department of Assisted Reproduction, Mater Dei, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. 4Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Conflicts to interest: none to declare. How to cite Ranniger RL, Lamaita RM, D’Abreu BF, Tolentino MR, Cândido EB, Andrade WP, et al. Fertility preservation in female cancer patients in Brazil: perceptions and attitudes of infertility specialists. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2024;46:e-rbgo25. DOI [http://dx.doi.org/10.61622/rbgo/2024](http://dx.doi.org/10.61622/rbgo/2024rbgo25)[rbgo25](http://dx.doi.org/10.61622/rbgo/2024rbgo25) Keywords Fertility preservation; Reproduction; Fertility; Neoplasms; Oocyte retrieval; Health knowledge, attitudes, practice; Gynecologists; Oncologists; Surveys and questionnaires Submitted August 9, 2023 Accepted October 12, 2023 Corresponding author Rivia Mara Lamaita E-mail: [rivia.lamaita@gmail.com](rivia.lamaita@gmail.com) Associate Editor Helena von Eye Corleta ([https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7406-737X](https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7406-737X)) Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Abstract Objective: Fertility preservation is a priority in oncology for female cancer patients. However, thereis a lack of communication between infertility specialists and oncologists. This study aimed to evaluate infertility specialists’ perceptions and experiences regarding fertility preservation. Methods: Conduct an online survey to profile infertility specialists. Participants were infertility affiliated with the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (FEBRASGO) . The specialists received an online survey, which response rate were 30.9%, most of whom were in southern and southeastern. The survey consisted on 14 questions about the infertility specialists’location, techniques in clinical practice, treatment successful rate, patients idea, etc. Results: The average experience in human reproduction were 15.5 ± 10.2 years (mean ± standard deviation, range 1-40). Among reproductive-aged female cancer patients recommended for fertility preservation, 60.3 ± 28.8%(range 10-100%) underwent preservation procedures. Main barriers were cost (41%), oncologists’ knowledge or acceptance (35%) and accessibility (9%) . Most infertility specialists (58%) considered 40 years the limit for fertility preservation. Leukemia, lymphoma, breast and ovarian cancers were prioritized for fertility preservation, while lung, thyroid, gastric, and brain cancers were less relevant. Conclusion: This is the first Brazilian study about infertility specialists’ perceptions on oncology patients access to fertility prese

FAQs

What was the study objective regarding fertility preservation?

To evaluate infertility specialists’ perceptions and experiences concerning fertility preservation for female cancer patients.

How was the data collected and what was the response rate?

An online survey was conducted with infertility specialists, yielding a response rate of 30.9%, with most respondents located in southern and southeastern Brazil.

What barriers were most often reported by infertility specialists?

The main barriers were cost (41%), oncologists’ knowledge or acceptance (35%), and accessibility (9%).

Sep 21, 2026

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