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Research article
Jane Maria Ussher
Western Sydney University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2128-0019
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Cancer survivorship and infertility are widely acknowledged to be relational experiences, with couple communication facilitating coping. However, little is known about the ways in which couples communicate about cancer related fertility concerns.
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine how couples communicate about cancer related fertility concerns, and the perceived quality of such communication from the perspective of cancer survivors and their partners.
Methods: Eight-hundred and seventy-eight cancer survivors (693 women, 185 men) and 144 partners (82 women, 62 men), across a range of tumour types and age groups, completed a survey which examined cancer related fertility concerns. Seventy-eight people with cancer (61 women and 17 men), and 26 partners (13 women and 13 men), participated in semi-structured interviews to examine the relational context of infertility. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews and open ended survey questions about fertility concerns and relationships. Valid percentages for single items from the relationships subscale of the Fertility Preservation Inventory (FPI), related to themes identified in the qualitative data, identified the commonality of responses across the sample.
Results: Our findings suggest that the majority of couples could both communicate about cancer related fertility concerns and had concerns about the adequacy and impact of such communication. This is reflected in the overarching theme identified in our analysis: Talking but not always understanding: Couple communication about infertility concerns after cancer. Subthemes included: Positive couple communication about fertility concerns leads to support, understanding and relationship growth; Conflict and silencing of conversations surrounding cancer and infertility leads to relationship tension; and Managing infertility disclosure in new and future relationships.
Conclusion: Open and honest couple communication about cancer related fertility concerns is associated with feeling supported and understood, facilitating relationship satisfaction and coping. Health-care professionals working in cancer care should include partners of cancer survivors in discussions of fertility. Couple interventions developed in general psycho-oncology should be extended to the domain of fertility, in order to facilitate effective couple communication. Communication in future relationships needs to be addressed for single people and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who have oncofertility concerns.
Keywords
cancer, cancer survivorship, infertility, relationships, couple communication, oncofertility
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View the published article at BMC Public Health.
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On 06 Jan, 2021
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Jan, 2021
No comments provided
Submission checks complete
On 29 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 26 Dec, 2020
Version (no preprint)
Posted 14 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 14 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 14 Dec, 2020
This version was not preprinted
Version 1
Posted 27 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #4 received
Received 09 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 09 Dec, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 08 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 06 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 25 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 07 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 28 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Jul, 2020
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A new preprint design is coming!
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See the published version of this preprint at BMC Public Health.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Jane Maria Ussher
Western Sydney University
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2128-0019
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Public Health.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 06 Jan, 2021
Editorial decision: Accept
On 04 Jan, 2021
No comments provided
Submission checks complete
On 29 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 26 Dec, 2020
Version (no preprint)
Posted 14 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 14 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 14 Dec, 2020
This version was not preprinted
Version 1
Posted 27 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Review #4 received
Received 09 Dec, 2020
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 09 Dec, 2020
Review #3 received
Received 08 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #4 agreed
On 06 Dec, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 25 Nov, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 08 Nov, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 07 Nov, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 24 Aug, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 30 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 28 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 19 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 19 Jul, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Public Health.
Background: Cancer survivorship and infertility are widely acknowledged to be relational experiences, with couple communication facilitating coping. However, little is known about the ways in which couples communicate about cancer related fertility concerns.
Objective: The aim of the study was to examine how couples communicate about cancer related fertility concerns, and the perceived quality of such communication from the perspective of cancer survivors and their partners.
Methods: Eight-hundred and seventy-eight cancer survivors (693 women, 185 men) and 144 partners (82 women, 62 men), across a range of tumour types and age groups, completed a survey which examined cancer related fertility concerns. Seventy-eight people with cancer (61 women and 17 men), and 26 partners (13 women and 13 men), participated in semi-structured interviews to examine the relational context of infertility. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interviews and open ended survey questions about fertility concerns and relationships. Valid percentages for single items from the relationships subscale of the Fertility Preservation Inventory (FPI), related to themes identified in the qualitative data, identified the commonality of responses across the sample.
Results: Our findings suggest that the majority of couples could both communicate about cancer related fertility concerns and had concerns about the adequacy and impact of such communication. This is reflected in the overarching theme identified in our analysis: Talking but not always understanding: Couple communication about infertility concerns after cancer. Subthemes included: Positive couple communication about fertility concerns leads to support, understanding and relationship growth; Conflict and silencing of conversations surrounding cancer and infertility leads to relationship tension; and Managing infertility disclosure in new and future relationships.
Conclusion: Open and honest couple communication about cancer related fertility concerns is associated with feeling supported and understood, facilitating relationship satisfaction and coping. Health-care professionals working in cancer care should include partners of cancer survivors in discussions of fertility. Couple interventions developed in general psycho-oncology should be extended to the domain of fertility, in order to facilitate effective couple communication. Communication in future relationships needs to be addressed for single people and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who have oncofertility concerns.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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