Utilization of cryopreserved semen in tumor patients

Treatment with cytotoxic drugs or with radiation in order to manage a tumor or another life-threatening disease involves a potential hazard to male fertility. In these cases cryopreservation of semen is recommended. However, the number of patients requesting the subsequent insemination of their partner is rather low. It would be of interest if patients with a high probability for desiring use of the cryodeposit for insemination could be identified. During the years 1985-1992 we performed cryopreservation in 29 patients attending our department. One year following cryopreservation the utilization of the cryodeposit was analyzed: 29 patients were not interested in further maintenance, 2 patients died, 3 patients requested use for insemination, 31 patients decided to maintain the semen further in a commercial cryobank, 17 patients had a complete restitution of spermatogenesis within the observation period. In 7 patients the interval is yet below 1 year. The different modes of utilizing the cryodeposit were analyzed in relation to the semen quality, age, status, kind of disease and primary treatment. None of these factors possibly influencing the utilization showed differences between the groups. We conclude that it is impossible to predict the probability of the use of a cryodeposit of semen based on the examined patient characteristics at the time of preservation. We plan to further on offer semen preservation to all patients requiring it in a situation of threatened fertility, bearing in mind that the relative costs of the cryopreservation are low.