Fertility preservation in BRCA-mutated breast cancer patients

A possible side effect of anticancer treatments in premenopausal women is the occurrence of premature ovarian failure and subsequent infertility. The inheritance of a deleterious genetic mutation in the BRCA1 or 2 genes generates the hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. Additional fertility counseling for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations is warranted to educate them about the available fertility preservation options in the context of their unique concerns (i.e., prophylactic gynecologic surgery, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis and risk of developing long-term treatment-related premature ovarian failure). In this report we discuss the available options for fertility preservation in women with breast cancer, with a particular focus on the specific issues in breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations.