Sperm cryopreservation in oncological patients: a 14-year follow-up study

Meseguer, Marcos; Molina, Nancy; García-Velasco, Juan A.; Remohí, Jose; Pellicer, Antonio; Garrido, Nicolás

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.022

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Volume 85, Issue 3 , Pages 640-645, March 2006

Sperm cryopreservation in oncological patients: a 14-year follow-up study

Marcos Meseguer, Ph.D.
- Instituto Universitario Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain
- Reprint requests: Marcos Meseguer, Ph.D., Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Plaza de la Policía Local, 3, Valencia 46015, Spain (FAX: 34 96 3050999)
Nancy Molina, M.D.
- Instituto Universitario Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Juan A. García-Velasco, M.D.
- Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Jose Remohí
- Instituto Universitario Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Antonio Pellicer
- Instituto Universitario Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Hospital Universitario Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain
Nicolás Garrido, Ph.D.
- Instituto Universitario Valenciano de Infertilidad, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain

Received 19 January 2005; received in revised form 8 August 2005; accepted 8 August 2005.

Objective

Oncologic treatments can destroy spermatogenic dividing cells and cause azoospermia which could be irreversible. Sperm banking is the best option to preserve male fertility after these treatments. It is easy, inexpensive, and safe. To date, few clinical data are available about large series of cancer patients. Our objective was to determine the usefulness of these preventive sperm freezing protocols.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

University-affiliated private fertility center.

Patient(s)

One hundred eighty-six cancer patients who banked sperm samples at our center before surgery or chemo- or radiotherapy treatments from 1991 to 2004.

Intervention(s)

Conjugal status, age, type of cancer, treatment, and future use (if any) of the cryopreserved sperm samples for assisted reproduction technology (ART), and cycle results were recorded, analyzed, and compared with a control group.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Basic sperm analysis of semen samples from cancer patients prior to freezing, after thawing, and after capacitation for ART.

Result(s)

A total of 320 semen samples were frozen before antineoplasic treatment. Six months later, 27% of the males recovered normal sperm production. From all frozen samples, 8.7% were discarded; the reasons were pregnancy achievement (55%), normal sperm production (28%), and patient death (18%). Finally, 5 IUI cycles and 30 ICSI cycles were done from frozen samples, with 1 and 15 pregnancies, respectively; results were comparable with those obtained in a control group.

Conclusion(s)

A significant number of males who cryopreserved semen samples before receiving antitumoral treatments have employed them. The results obtained showed that this is the strategy of choice, aiming to preserve fertility for the future, because the cost/benefit ratio is favorable. Patients should be counseled accordingly.

Key Words: Cancer , sperm bank , cryopreservation , infertility , chemotherapy , assisted reproduction technology