CONTRACEPTIVE USE BY WOMEN RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY FOR BREAST-CANCER

Chemotherapeutic agents are known to be potentially teratogenic. In vi ew of the increasing use of chemotherapy in young sexually active and potentially fertile women, we performed a study of contraceptive use a nd advice given to women prior to starting chemotherapy for breast can cer. A questionnaire was mailed to 183 patients and was returned, comp leted, by 165 (90%). The results showed that 14 premenopausal women, 5 of whom were sexually active, did not use any form of contraception d uring chemotherapy. Twenty-one per cent of patients received contracep tive advice prior to chemotherapy and 30% reported that they would hav e liked more advice. It is apparent that women are receiving relativel y little information on contraceptive measures before undergoing treat ment with chemotherapy. Levels of awareness of health care professiona ls need to be increased, and relevant hospital booklets should be prod uced or updated in light of the findings of this study.