Testicular Cancer and Infertility
Testicular cancer is the most common malignancy in young men (24-34 years old), and the incidence has been rising worldwide over the last four decades. Fortunately, current treatment protocols have resulted in a cure rate of over 80%. With excellent long-term survivorship, secondary issues such as fertility are of growing importance with testicular cancer afflicting men in the prime of their reproductive years. In the largest series to date, fertility in these men decreases by 30% after treatment. Recent investigations show that 36-50% of men who receive chemotherapy will be oligospermic (too few sperm) or azoospermic (no sperm at all) at one year of follow-up. Fortunately despite the unfavorable effects on sperm production, some men are able to regain their fertility to various extents, and 43% are able to conceive after receiving testicular cancer treatment.
With this said, some men are unable to regain the level of fertility that they had before their treatment. As a result, it is incredibly important that your cancer doctors talk to you and your partner about preserving your fertility before undergoing treatment. Dr. Kuang at the Southwest Fertility Center for Men is more than happy to be a part of your treatment team and to help you as you face the challenges of battling cancer.