Male Infertility A child of my own - Andrology Australia

APPENDICESTESTICULARCANCER & FERTILITYFor moreinformation onsperm storage speakto your specialistor contact a localinfertility clinicWhen should sperm be stored?To avoid having to delay treatment for testicularcancer, it is important to think about spermstorage early and before treatment starts. Somemen may have poor sperm counts and may needto visit the sperm-banking unit on two or threeseparate occasions. Even if the sperm quality beforetreatment is poor, sperm storage is recommendedas advances in reproductive technologies, just a fewmoving sperm can be used successfully to producechildren at a later stage.Should teenage patients be encouraged tostore sperm?Sperm storage for teenagers with testicularcancer can be a difficult issue and needs carefuland delicate management. It can be extremelydifficult for young males to come to terms withthe diagnosis of cancer at a young age and possiblebody image problems they may have followingsurgery. Fatherhood is therefore not likely to bea priority concern. Producing a semen sample bymasturbation can also be stressful for a very youngmale in these circumstances.Family support and encouragement withoutpressure can be extremely valuable to teenagerswith testicular cancer. Parents may need tohelp communicate future fertility problems totheir child.MALE INFERTILITY 96