Cancer diagnosis for anyone is shocking, but for young people who get diagnosed with the disease it comes with an additional issue i. e. the possibility that the disease or its treatment will leave them unable to have children. Now a new study has found that although there are several options through which cancer patients preserve their fertility, but patients often are not aware of the options.

The findings of the study published in the journal Cancer showed that young women may not receive enough information before treatments have already limited their options.

Dr. Nicole Noyes, reproductive endocrinologist and director of the fertility program at NYU Langone's Fertility Center, said, "It's a brave new world, fertility preservation. We've got to get the word out to more oncologists".

Researchers found that decisions and treatments usually follow as soon as cancer is being diagnosed, and often starts early if the cancer is aggressive. Because of shortage of time, many young patients do not get opportunity for detailed discussions about their fertility before chemotherapy or radiation.

Researchers in a survey of 459 teens and young adult cancer patients asked them about what counseling and strategies they had received about the possibility of preserving the ability to have children after cancer treatment.

They found 70% of the participants reported cancer treatment could make them infertile, only 31% of males used fertility-preserving options whereas only 6.8% of females did so.

Lead author Dr. Margarett Shnorhavorian of the University of Washington, Seattle Children's Hospital said in a statement that the fertility issues highlighted by participants in the study further highlight the need for decreased cost, improved insurance coverage, and partnerships between cancer healthcare providers and fertility experts.