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Background <p>Fertility preservation presents a&#xa0;central challenge for cancer patients—medically, psychosocially, and ethically. Patients use social media to share questions and concerns related to fertility preservation treatments. This analysis offers insights into patients’ personal experiences and provides practical implications for fertility counselling.</p> Objectives <p>To identify recurring themes, informational needs, and ethical issues related to fertility preservation from the patients’ perspective.</p> Methods <p>Qualitative analysis of publicly accessible posts on Instagram (23&#xa0;posts from 9&#xa0;accounts, 739 comments; analysis period: 01/2020–06/2023; Meta Platforms, Menlo Park CA, USA) and in a&#xa0;cancer community forum (240 posts by 80&#xa0;users; analysis period: 01/2020–11/2023).</p> Results <p>Fertility preservation and family planning are described as emotional and biographical challenges by cancer patients. The desire to have children often conflicts with medical recommendations, especially in the context of antihormonal therapies. Reported difficulties include uncertainty about interpreting medical advice, lack of follow-up information, and nontransparent cost structures. Ethical issues such as genetic risk, child welfare, and assisted reproduction are also discussed. Social media serve as spaces for orientation, contextualizing medical advice, and peer exchange.</p> Conclusion <p>A&#xa0;patient-centered approach to fertility counselling should acknowledge and respond to the complex practical, emotional, and ethical concerns patients may face.</p>

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Fertilitätserhalt aus Patient*innensicht: Spannungsfelder und Informationsbedarfe in den sozialen Medien

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月27日

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  • Christina Leppin,
  • Claudia Lampert,
  • Joachim Weis,
  • Nils Ellebrecht

摘要

Background

Fertility preservation presents a central challenge for cancer patients—medically, psychosocially, and ethically. Patients use social media to share questions and concerns related to fertility preservation treatments. This analysis offers insights into patients’ personal experiences and provides practical implications for fertility counselling.

Objectives

To identify recurring themes, informational needs, and ethical issues related to fertility preservation from the patients’ perspective.

Methods

Qualitative analysis of publicly accessible posts on Instagram (23 posts from 9 accounts, 739 comments; analysis period: 01/2020–06/2023; Meta Platforms, Menlo Park CA, USA) and in a cancer community forum (240 posts by 80 users; analysis period: 01/2020–11/2023).

Results

Fertility preservation and family planning are described as emotional and biographical challenges by cancer patients. The desire to have children often conflicts with medical recommendations, especially in the context of antihormonal therapies. Reported difficulties include uncertainty about interpreting medical advice, lack of follow-up information, and nontransparent cost structures. Ethical issues such as genetic risk, child welfare, and assisted reproduction are also discussed. Social media serve as spaces for orientation, contextualizing medical advice, and peer exchange.

Conclusion

A patient-centered approach to fertility counselling should acknowledge and respond to the complex practical, emotional, and ethical concerns patients may face.