Biological aspects of sexuality and fertility in patients with an hematological malignancy

  • Auteur Christine M. Segeren
  • Pdf openbaar Yes

The outcome of haematological malignancies has improved tremendously over the last half century. Although there is more focus on the psychological side effects of diagnosis and treatment, little attention has been paid to morbidity related to fertility and sexual function. Because of the fact that these patients live longer, it is warranted to pay more attention to these aspects of quality of life. In older patients who undergo a less intensive way of treatment sexuality can change during treatment but will return as to before treatment. In the literature most attention is paid to younger patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) and patients who underwent peripheral stem cell transplantation. In patients with high-risk HL who need intensive treatment, there is an impact on sexuality and fertility during treatment but also later on after treatment. This also the fact in patients undergoing high dose chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy before a peripheral stem cell transplantation with their own or donor stem cells. For all patients with an hematological malignancy it is warranted to pay attention to the impact of diagnosis, treatment and thereafter on sexuality, intimacy and fertility in a biopsycosocial context.

Gepubliceerd in 2017, Volume 41, Issue 4

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