Information For Patients

Men undergoing cancer treatment, including some type of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery, face the possibility of temporary or permanent damage to their fertility. Physicians know which treatments are likely to cause a problem, but often cannot predict how severely a man's fertility may be affected by his cancer treatment, or for how long.

An option to preserve a man's potential to father his own children at some future time is to freeze, or cryopreserve, samples of sperm before cancer treatment begins. This process is called therapeutic sperm banking.

Therapeutic sperm banking is also available to men who are going to have a vasectomy, allowing them the chance to conceive a child in the future. Occasionally, therapeutic sperm banking is recommended in other situations when a man's fertility could be damaged by surgery, medical treatments or exposure to a toxic environment. If you are not sure whether a medical treatment could damage your fertility, please discuss the issue with your physician.

Fertile Hope is an excellent source of information about fertility preservation issues for cancer patients. For more information visit www.fertilehope.org

Making the choice to bank sperm is very personal. If you are married or in a committed relationship, it is best if your partner is involved in your decision. If you are under the age of 18, your parents should be included in the discussion. Unfortunately, a man often has to make up his mind quickly, at a time when he may be facing a serious illness. We hope this will help you in making an informed choice.

• When should therapeutic sperm banking be started?
• Will banking sperm delay my treatment?
• What influences semen quality?
• Is it worth banking semen if the quality is not optimal?
• How many samples should be preserved?
• How long can the sperm be safely stored?
• Does using cryopreserved sperm increase the risk of birth defects?
• Will my children be healthy?
• If I am sexually active, should I use birth control during cancer treatment?
• For information on fertility options after cancer treatment, visit fertileHOPE at www.fertilehope.org.