Webinar: Advancing Fertility Preservation: The Expanding Role of Nurses and the Power of Advocacy-Advancing Fertility Preservation: The Expanding Role of Nurses and the Power of Advocacy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Barb Lockhart, a nurse practitioner at Lurie Children’s, presented a webinar on advancing fertility preservation and the expanding role of nurses in advocacy. She emphasized that fertility preservation is not an optional “extra,” but a health equity issue and a key part of cancer care that should begin at diagnosis and continue through survivorship.<br /><br />The talk covered why fertility matters deeply to adolescents and young adults with cancer, how lack of discussion can damage trust, and why nurses must be prepared to start these conversations even when they feel uncomfortable. She noted that patients and families are increasingly aware of fertility preservation, and that organizations such as AFON, ONS, and CANO have helped push the field forward through position statements and guidelines.<br /><br />Barb reviewed common barriers: provider bias, lack of routine referral, limited knowledge, access problems, and insurance coverage gaps. She highlighted the importance of interprofessional and interinstitutional partnerships to ensure patients can access services quickly, even if those services are not available onsite. Case examples illustrated challenges and successes with sperm banking, testicular sperm extraction, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and referral to outside centers.<br /><br />A major theme was advocacy: nurses can influence practice locally, support policy change, and help families navigate insurance appeals. She also discussed research needs, including long-term outcomes for preserved tissue and the fertility effects of newer treatments.<br /><br />The session concluded with resources for education and advocacy, including the Oncofertility Consortium, ECHO modules, and the AFON/CANO/ONS fertility preservation statement.

Keywords

fertility preservation

oncology nursing

health equity

adolescent and young adult cancer

advocacy

sperm banking

ovarian tissue cryopreservation

insurance appeals

interprofessional collaboration

oncofertility