Understanding Patients' Knowledge and Feelings Regarding Their Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue: A Qualitative Interviewing Study.

Abstract

Purpose: For prepubertal girls, or when gonadotoxic treatment is urgent, ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) represents the only option for fertility preservation. We sought to determine patients' knowledge and feelings about their cryopreserved ovarian tissue. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with women aged 18 years or older who underwent OTC at our academic fertility center between 2006 and 2017. Subjects were recruited by phone and participated in a single telephone interview using a standardized guide. Interviews were performed until data saturation was reached. Atlas.ti software was used for content analysis. Results: We interviewed eight women with a mean age of 25.8 ± 6.1 years (range, 19-37 years). The mean age at OTC was 20.4 ± 7.5 years (range, 13-35 years). Indications for fertility preservation included hematologic cancer/disease (4/8) or gynecological cancer/BRCA2 positive (4/8). Most patients (7/8) desired future fertility. Although half of the interviewees understood the OTC procedure, only two knew that the tissue can be used for future fertility and only one was aware of the benefits for vasomotor symptoms. Five subjects expressed positive emotions regarding OTC; one felt angry that the decision was made by her parents and two were concerned that OTC might not have been a good choice. However, most subjects (5/8) expressed a desire to better understand OTC and most (5/8) wished for more education about it. Conclusion: This study identifies a significant knowledge gap among patients with cryopreserved ovarian tissue about its uses and benefits as well as a strong desire among these women for improved education about this fertility preservation modality.