Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Meernik, C; Jorgensen, K; Wu, C-F; Murphy, CC; Baker, VL; Brady, PC; Nitecki, R; Nichols, HB; Rauh-Hain, JA
Published in: Breast Cancer Res Treat
February 2023

PURPOSE: Equitable access to oncofertility services is a key component of cancer survivorship care, but factors affecting access and use remain understudied. METHODS: To describe disparities in assisted reproductive technology (ART) use among women with breast cancer in California, we conducted a population-based cohort study using linked oncology, ART, and demographic data. We identified women age 18-45 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2000 and 2015. The primary outcome was ART use-including oocyte/embryo cryopreservation or embryo transfer-after cancer diagnosis. We used log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify factors associated with ART use. RESULTS: Among 36,468 women with invasive breast cancer, 206 (0.56%) used ART. Women significantly less likely to use ART were age 36-45 years at diagnosis (vs. 18-35 years: PR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.13-0.22); non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic (vs. non-Hispanic White: PR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.21-0.46); had at least one child (vs. no children: adjusted PR [aPR] = 0.39, 95% CI 0.25-0.60); or lived in non-urban areas (vs. urban: aPR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.10-0.75), whereas women more likely to use ART lived in high-SES areas (vs. low-/middle-SES areas: aPR = 2.93, 95% CI 2.04-4.20) or had private insurance (vs. public/other insurance: aPR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.59-5.49). CONCLUSION: Women with breast cancer who are socially or economically disadvantaged, or who already had a child, are substantially less likely to use ART after diagnosis. The implementation of policies or programs targeting more equitable access to fertility services for women with cancer is warranted.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

EISSN

1573-7217

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

198

Issue

1

Start / End Page

149 / 158

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity
  • Cohort Studies
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Meernik, C., Jorgensen, K., Wu, C.-F., Murphy, C. C., Baker, V. L., Brady, P. C., … Rauh-Hain, J. A. (2023). Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study. Breast Cancer Res Treat, 198(1), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-022-06857-0
Meernik, Clare, Kirsten Jorgensen, Chi-Fang Wu, Caitlin C. Murphy, Valerie L. Baker, Paula C. Brady, Roni Nitecki, Hazel B. Nichols, and J Alejandro Rauh-Hain. “Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study.Breast Cancer Res Treat 198, no. 1 (February 2023): 149–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-022-06857-0.
Meernik C, Jorgensen K, Wu C-F, Murphy CC, Baker VL, Brady PC, et al. Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Feb;198(1):149–58.
Meernik, Clare, et al. “Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study.Breast Cancer Res Treat, vol. 198, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 149–58. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s10549-022-06857-0.
Meernik C, Jorgensen K, Wu C-F, Murphy CC, Baker VL, Brady PC, Nitecki R, Nichols HB, Rauh-Hain JA. Disparities in the use of assisted reproductive technologies after breast cancer: a population-based study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Feb;198(1):149–158.
Journal cover image

Published In

Breast Cancer Res Treat

DOI

EISSN

1573-7217

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

198

Issue

1

Start / End Page

149 / 158

Location

Netherlands

Related Subject Headings

  • Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Pregnancy
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Ethnicity
  • Cohort Studies
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis