Oncofertility and therapeutic modalities

Surgical and radiological treatment as well as chemotherapy and biological therapy may have harmful effects on young patients' future fertility. Increasingly greater emphasis has been put on ensuring these patients' long-term quality of life, therefore, in addition to survival, preserving their prospective fertility is also among our aims. The term 'oncofertility' has been compounded from two expressions, 'oncology' and attempts to 'fertility preservation'. In gynecology, fertility preservation involves not only special surgical procedures but also interventions intended to preserve gametes, reproductive organs and embryos. Although the term 'oncofertility' was created in the United States of America, it has become an interdisciplinary field of science worldwide. By gaining grounds steadily, it has attracted special attention among experts. In addition to the subdivisions of classical oncology and gynecology, knowledge of oncofertility is broadening so rapidly that one cannot expect experts to be 100% up-to-date in one or another modality. It is special guidance by consultants in oncofertility that can make occasional co-operation among oncologists, radiotherapists, surgeons and infertility specialists really effective.