Incidence of fertility counseling of women of child-bearing age before treatment for colorectal cancer

Background The incidence of colorectal cancer in women of reproductive age is low. Physicians lack awareness of infertility difficulties in these patients. We studied the frequency of women of child-bearing age with colorectal cancer receiving pretreatment fertility counseling. Methods This retrospective review from 1996 to 2004 screened women of reproductive age treated for colorectal cancer for documentation of fertility counseling or referral to fertility specialists before initiating treatment. Results Twenty-one women met the age criteria (range, 18-45 y). Eight patients were excluded for prior sterilization procedures or tumor involvement of reproductive organs. In the 13 remaining women, 2 had pretreatment fertility counseling documentation. These 2 patients had fewer than 2 children and had rectal tumors. Thirty-eight percent had pregnancy or menses difficulty after treatment. Conclusions Few young women with colorectal cancer had pretreatment fertility counseling, whereas several had fertility complications posttreatment. Physicians need to discuss infertility concerns with their female colorectal cancer patients before intervention.