[Use of sperm cryopreservation by tumor patients]

Impairment of spermatogenesis can be expected after cytostatic treatment or radiation for cancer. To improve fertility prognosis, semen samples are usually deep-frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen prior to such a therapy. However, after therapy this deep-frozen sperm is seldom used. Of 47 patients for whom we started cryopreservation of semen during the years 1983-1988, 20 men were no longer interested in further storage within 2 years, so that the deposits were destroyed. Up to now, none of the 27 samples still existing has been used for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Possible reasons for this are discussed.