College Students' Perspectives Regarding Fertility Preservation

Objective-The purpose of this research is to examine college students' attitudes and knowledge of fertility preservation for cancer patients. The specific hypotheses were that students would have low levels of knowledge about the effects of chemotherapy on fertility and that religion would play a key role in their decision to accept fertility preservation if they had a cancer diagnosis. Method- A sample of 239 students from upper-level classes at the University of South Florida was surveyed in order to assess knowledge and attitudes of college students. The survey consisted of questions derived from a survey administered at the 2007, “Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered” (FORCE) conference, and additional specific questions regarding cancer and fertility preservation aimed at general audience. Result-In the case of a cancer diagnosis, 77.4% of students disagreed that religion would play the most important role, in their decision to accept fertility preservation. Most students (43.5%) agree that their partner would play a more important role than religion. In their decision to accept or reject fertility preservation, and 33.1% of them strongly agreed high percentage of the students (75.3%) knew that chemotherapy caused sterility. Conclusion-The data reinforce that patients from all educational level from all religious and ethnic backgrounds should be informed about the damages chemotherapy can cause and the fertility preservation options available to them depending on their age and gende