Background: Breast cancer is becoming more common among premenopausal women and survival rates have improved. The treatment may increase the risk of infertility, while the number of women wishing to become pregnant after cancer treatment is increasing. Research has identified several barriers related to the provision of information on fertility preservation within cancer care. Aim: The purpose of this literature review was to explore how women of reproductive age who have or have had breast cancer experience information about fertility preservation options. Method: A literature review based on eleven articles with a qualitative study design. The results were compiled and analyzed thematically. Results: The results were presented in two main categories: Difficult to absorb, which describes factors that affect women’s ability to understand and process information about fertility preservation options: In the shadow of cancer treatment, which illustrates how healthcare professionals assumptions and focus on the treatment often led to women’s individual needs being overlooked. Conclusion: Women experienced that the information about fertility preservation options was not adapted to their individual needs. It was often insufficient, difficult to understand and provided late in the treatment process. The information was also perceived as inconsistent and contradictory between different healthcare units. Many women expressed the perception that healthcare professionals made assumptions based on sociodemographic factors.

Bakgrund: Bröstcancer blir allt vanligare hos premenopausala kvinnor och överlevnaden har förbättrats. Behandlingen kan dock medföra risk för infertilitet, samtidigt som antalet kvinnor som önskar graviditet efter cancerbehandling ökar. Forskning har emellertid identifierat flera hinder i samband med information om fertilitetsbevarande åtgärder inom cancervården. Syfte: Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa hur kvinnor i reproduktiv ålder som har eller har haft bröstcancer upplever information om fertilitetsbevarande åtgärder. Metod: Litteraturstudie baserad på elva artiklar med kvalitativ studiedesign. Resultaten sammanställdes och analyserades tematiskt. Resultat: Resultatet presenterades i två huvudkategorier: Svårt att ta till sig, som beskriver faktorer som påverkar kvinnors möjlighet att förstå och bearbeta information om fertilitetsbevarande åtgärder; I skuggan av cancerbehandlingen, som belyser hur vårdpersonalens antaganden och fokus på behandlingen ofta innebar att kvinnors individuella behov hamnade i skymundan. Konklusion: Kvinnor upplevde att informationen om fertilitetsbevarande åtgärder inte anpassades efter deras individuella behov. Informationen var ofta otillräcklig, svårförståelig och kom sent i behandlingsprocessen. Dessutom upplevdes informationen som inkonsekvent och motsägelsefull mellan olika vårdenheter. Många upplevde även att vårdpersonalen gjorde antaganden baserade på sociodemografiska faktorer.