Young Women Diagnosed With Early Stage Ovarian Cancer: A Focus on Fertility Issues and Sexual Function

A Pilot Study of Young Women Diagnosed With Early Stage Ovarian Cancer: A Focus on Fertility Issues and Sexual Function

The purpose of this study is to ask youn women diagnosed with ovarian cancer who have undergone surgery that will allow them to have children in the future, on issues such as: education about their options to keep their ability to have children, after-chemotherapy treatment decision making, and reproductive history. The second purpose is to determine the effect of an early diagnosis of ovarian cancer on the sexual functioning of women.

• Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire either in the clinic or at home and return it to the research staff by mail or in person.
• The study will involve being asked questions about the following: Fertility history; sexual history after being diagnosed with cancer; decision to have surgery that will allow them to have children; education they may or may not have received about the surgery that saved their ability to have children.
• Answers to all questions will be kept confidential and participants will be identified by a number only.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women diagnosed with stage I or II invasive ovarian cancer, that underwent fertility sparing surgery
• Women who were premenopausal prior to diagnosis
• 40 years of age or younger at the time of ovarian cancer diagnosis
• Completed therapy for early stage cancer
• No evidence of recurrence
• No history fo known infertility prior to diagnosis
• No other significant medical conditions that would affect fertility