Page 38 - IJPS-11-5

International Journal of
Population Studies Self-compassion for infertility in breast cancer

awareness and knowledge of breast cancer prevalence, its supplement has also been shown to improve reproductive
symptoms, screening, and treatments have been found. outcomes (Mohammadi et al., 2021), such a treatment
Within this commentary, we suggest that information on holds significant promise for young breast cancer patients
the impact of breast cancer treatment be incorporated in but may not be commonly available. Assisted reproductive
breast cancer educational interventions, delivered to the technologies have been found not to be associated with
general population, students, or those diagnosed with neurodevelopmental diseases (Gullo et al., 2022), and
breast cancer. The inclusion of this information will ensure non-invasive screening for pathology during gestation is
those at risk of developing breast cancer or undergoing commonly applied (Gullo et al., 2023), improving fertility
treatment can make informed choices of how best to outcomes.
safeguard their quality of life and mental well-being. In Recent understanding of the role of microRNAs in breast
particular, infertility risk is greatly heightened for those cancer etiology will lead to improvements in diagnosis, with
receiving cancer treatment (Silvestris et al., 2020). Though potential for elevated rates of early diagnosis and survival
mitigations can be implemented, these approaches are (Piergentili et al., 2024). With the advent of artificial
clinical and require medical advice to inform choice. intelligence-assisted fertility assessment, improvements in
Infertility is a strong risk factor for psychopathologies fertility rates are expected in this population despite the
such as depression (Kiani et al., 2021) and anxiety (Yusuf, impact of cancer treatment (Medenica et al., 2022). Taken
2016). Pre-menopausal breast cancer survivors are at together, this evidence indicates a complex and changing
particular risk of depression due to reproduction-related informational environment for the clinician and patient to
concerns (Gorman et al., 2015). Since self-compassion navigate when considering fertility preservation.
interventions have been found to promote mental health
for breast cancer patients (Haj Sadeghi et al., 2018; Pinto- 2.2. Improving education regarding the fertility
Gouveia et al., 2014) and those experiencing primary impact of breast cancer treatment
infertility (Hajihasani & Ekhtiari Amiri, 2023; Hoyle et Despite fertility preservation techniques being accessible in
al., 2022), we suggest incorporating it as a promising industrialized nations, Schover et al. (2014) identified that
intervention for protecting the mental health of those these were underutilized, and many cancer patients were
diagnosed with breast cancer who are family-planning. not informed of their availability. Roberts et al. (2015) cite
the lack of clinician knowledge, inadequate resources, and
2. Breast cancer treatment, infertility misperceptions regarding intervention costs and efficacy
risk, educational intervention, and as barriers to accessing fertility preservation techniques.
psychological impact Furthermore, highlighted by Roberts et al. (2015) are the
challenges posed by the psychological impact of receiving
2.1. Breast cancer treatment as a risk for infertility
a cancer diagnosis on a patient’s ability to make informed
Breast cancer treatment options include administration fertility decisions, and the complex ethical implications of
of gonadotoxic drugs, that is, those which can damage the various preservation options. A study by Zaami et al.
reproductive organs, and radiation; each of which carry a (2022a) showed a decline in fertility counseling rates for
high risk of impairing ovarian function (Paluch-Shimon cancer patients since the COVID-19 pandemic. Reviews
et al., 2022). Silvestris et al. (2020) reported that cancer of extant literature on breast cancer patients’ information
treatment results in permanent infertility for over one- needs, particularly relating to fertility, reveal that, in the last
third of breast cancer patients. Although approximately 15 years, little has improved. Peate et al. (2009) concluded
half of young breast cancer patients report wishing to that patients’ needs and concerns regarding fertility
pursue pregnancy post-treatment, their chance is reduced and menopause were often not adequately addressed or
by between 40% and 60% in comparison to the general discussed before commencing breast cancer treatment.
population (Marklund et al., 2021). This heightened risk This finding was echoed more recently by Martino et al.
can be mitigated through a number of strategies, such as (2021), who highlighted that as many as 25% of women
egg (oocyte) and embryo preservation (Gullo et al., 2022), were not aware of disease or treatment impacts on fertility
though all must be implemented ahead of cancer treatment at the time of diagnosis.
and are complicated in some cases by exacerbation of the The European Society of Human Reproduction
cancer risk itself (Silvestris et al., 2020). and Embryology Guideline Group on Female Fertility
Developments in preventative treatment for breast Preservation (ESHRE) (2020) strongly recommended
cancer, using myo-inositol-based supplements, have shown the crucial provision of fertility information by clinicians
clinical benefit (Pasta et al., 2015). Since myo-inositol and fertility counselors to young women diagnosed

Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 32 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.1724