[The Munich cryopreserved sperm bank--intermediate 1974-1986 evaluation]

The storage of spermatozoa from tumour patients in sperm banks is an important medical task. As a result of improved treatment strategies the survival rate, particularly in patients with testicular tumours and Hodgkin's disease, is excellent if the diagnosis is made early. However, the necessary therapeutic measures often lead to the mutilation of reproductive function. At the Department of Dermatology at the University of Munich a sperm bank has been in existence since 1974; most of the patients who consult the sperm bank are men with testicular tumours. A synopsis of the last 12 years provides information about the patients, indications for storage, the method of preservation used and the fate of the cryopreserved samples used for insemination. To guarantee that optimal results are achieved, cryopreserved sperm samples should only be used by gynaecologists who are particularly experienced in the treatment of sterility.