Background: The use of chemotherapy and endocrine therapies in the treatment of pre-menopausal women with breast cancer may result in menopausal symptoms, permanent infertility or the need to delay pregnancy. This series of studies investigates the fertility- and menopause-related information needs of pre-menopausal women with a diagnosis of early breast cancer (Studies 1 and 2) and the benefits women need to make undergoing adjuvant endocrine therapies worthwhile (Study 3). Method: Study 1 is a qualitative study of 24 women and Study 2 a survey study amongst 228 women. Study 3 included a subset of 102 women from the sample involved in Study 2 who had been treated with endocrine therapies for a minimum of three months. To be eligible, women had to be aged 40 years or younger (Study 2 and 3) when diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, and be 6-60 months post-diagnosis at the time of participation. For Study 2, participants completed a mailed self-report questionnaire that included a fertility- and menopause-related information needs survey, and standardized measures of distress, quality-of-life, menopausal symptoms and information preferences. For Study 3, participants were asked to complete a face-to-face interview. Results: Study 1 showed that many women thought that the information they had received in the past about fertility and menopausal symptoms was either insufficient or unavailable. Some women felt that, while information on fertility and menopause issues had not been paramount at the time of diagnosis, it became increasingly important after diagnosis. Study 2 showed that 71% of participants discussed fertility-related issues with a health professional as part of their breast cancer treatment and 86% discussed menopause-related issues. Consultation with a fertility or menopause specialist was the most preferred method of obtaining this information. Study 3 demonstrated that the majority of participants considered adjuvant endocrine therapy worthwhile for a 2% absolute gain in survival rates and for a 6-month gain in life expectancy. Conclusions: The results of this series of studies suggest that younger women have unmet needs for fertility- and menopause-related information. Women with early breast cancer who had received adjuvant endocrine therapies judged modest survival gains sufficient to make adjuvant endocrine therapy worthwhile.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-141).

The experiences of African women with primary infertility were explored. These women were from Durban and surrounding rural areas, in KwaZulu / Natal. The aims of the study were to describe their perception of infertility using King's (1981) Interacting Systems Model and to describe the actions they undertook in response to their problem of primary infertility. A purposive sample of the first ten consenting women with primary infertility, five from the academic hospital and five from a private gynaecological practice were selected on the day when they attended either health centre. Case studies were conducted using in-depth interviews. Women's personal, interpersonal and social systems were adversely affected by their problem of being unable to conceive. For example in the taped discussions, all ten participants had a low self-image in regard to their personal system which was reflected in all but four, when measured with Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1979). All women were found to be at various stages in the grief process, only one having attained acceptance (Kubler-Ross, 1969). Eight women were married and the remaining two were single. Four of the married participants had experienced problems with "in-laws", which has led to poor interpersonal relationships, unlike the other four married participants. Despite not being major decision-makers in the household, all the participants were allowed to make their own decisions about whom they saw in regard to infertility. All the women concerned made use of formal medical facilities but four participants made use of traditional and/or faith healers as well. Some of the problems identified were the lack of emotional support from nursing personnel as well as their own lack of understanding of causes, investigations and treatment of female infertility. Recommendations regarding effective nursing care of women with infertility and the possible formation of support groups, were made. As all the participants were literate, informative pamphlets could be developed. Areas of further research were identified. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (MA (Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1989.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1989.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-126).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Acadia University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-162). Also available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Nurs.)--University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-118). Also available in print.