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The aim was to investigate desire for children, difficulties achieving a pregnancy, and infertility distress among survivors 3 to 7 years after cancer treatment in reproductive age.

Cancer survivors were identified in national population-based cancer registries. Eligible subjects presented with selected cancer diagnoses between 2003 and 2007 between the ages of 18 to 45. A postal questionnaire including study-specific questions, the Short-Form 36 Health Survey and the Fertility Problem Inventory, was sent to 810 survivors, and 484 participated (60 % response).

Most survivors who had a pretreatment desire for children still wanted children 3–7 years after treatment, and this group was characterized by young age and being childless at diagnosis. In addition, a substantial group of survivors (n …