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Disruption of spermatogenesis by the cancer disease process

Ashok Agarwal1, Shyam S R Allamaneni

  • 1Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute and Department of Obstetrics- Gynecology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. agarwaa@ccf.org

Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs
|March 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Cancer treatments and the disease itself can impair male fertility. This review explores factors affecting sperm production in cancer patients, highlighting sperm cryopreservation as a fertility preservation option.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Spermatogenesis

Background:

  • Cancer survivors increasingly prioritize quality-of-life, including fertility preservation.
  • Cancer treatments and the disease process can negatively impact male fertility.
  • The precise causes of impaired spermatogenesis in cancer patients remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review factors contributing to impaired spermatogenesis in cancer patients.
  • To emphasize testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma as key examples.
  • To highlight sperm cryopreservation as a fertility preservation method.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of factors affecting male fertility in cancer patients.
  • Focus on evidence related to testicular cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma.
  • Discussion of spermatogenesis, endocrine, and immunological disturbances.

Main Results:

  • Cancer treatments can directly harm testes or affect endocrine glands, impacting fertility.
  • The cancer disease process itself may influence spermatogenesis.
  • Multiple factors, including germ cell defects and systemic effects, contribute to poor semen quality.

Conclusions:

  • Impaired spermatogenesis in cancer patients is multifactorial.
  • Sperm cryopreservation offers a viable option for preserving fertilizing potential before therapy.
  • Further understanding of these factors is crucial for fertility management in cancer survivors.

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