Abstract
BACKGROUND: Owing to a growing number of young and adolescent Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors, awareness of (long-term) adverse effects of anticancer treatment increases. The risk of impaired reproductive ability is of great concern given its impact on quality of life. There is currently no review available on fertility after childhood HL treatment. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The aim of this narrative review was to summarize existing literature on different aspects of reproductive function in male and female childhood, adolescent, and young adult HL survivors. SEARCH METHODS: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for articles evaluating fertility in both male and female HL survivors aged <25 years at diagnosis. In females, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), acute ovarian failure, menstrual cycle, FSH, and pregnancy/live births were evaluated. In males, semen-analysis, serum FSH, inhibin B, LH, testosterone, and reports on pregnancy/live births were included. There was profound heterogeneity among studies and a lack of control groups; therefore, no meta-analyses could be performed. Results were presented descriptively and the quality of studies was not assessed individually. OUTCOMES: After screening, 75 articles reporting on reproductive markers in childhood or adolescent HL survivors were included. Forty-one papers reported on 5057 female HL survivors. The incidence of POI was 6-34% (median 9%; seven studies). Signs of diminished ovarian reserve or impaired ovarian function were frequently seen (low AMH 55-59%; median 57%; two studies. elevated FSH 17-100%; median 53%; seven studies). Most survivors had regular menstrual cycles. Fifty-one studies assessed fertility in 1903 male HL survivors. Post-treatment azoospermia was highly prevalent (33-100%; median 75%; 29 studies). Long-term follow-up data were limited, but reports on recovery of semen up to 12 years post-treatment exist. FSH levels were often elevated with low inhibin B (elevated FSH 0-100%; median 51.5%; 26 studies. low inhibin B 19-50%; median 45%; three studies). LH and testosterone levels were less evidently affected (elevated LH 0-57%, median 17%; 21 studies and low testosterone 0-43%; median 6%; 15 studies). In both sexes, impaired reproductive ability was associated with a higher dose of cumulative chemotherapeutic agents and pelvic radiotherapy. The presence of abnormal markers before treatment indicated that the disease itself may also negatively affect reproductive function (Females: AMH