Sperm banking is routinely recommended for all men diagnosed with cancer who are at risk of long-term infertility, caused by treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Infertility can be permanent or temporary depending on the individual's circumstances and men may need to attend follow-up appointments to assess their fertility in the years after they have been discharged from cancer treatment.
These appointments are important to receive appropriate fertility advice and in light of current sperm banking regulations which state sperm samples should be disposed of after 10 years if ongoing infertility cannot be confirmed.
Dr Allan Pacey, Senior Lecturer in Andrology, and Professor Christine Eiser, Professor in Psychology, at the University of Sheffield sent questionnaires to 499 male cancer survivors aged between 18 and 55 who had undergone cancer treatment more than five years ago and had taken the opportunity to bank sperm in either Sheffield or Nottingham.
The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, showed that of the 193 responses over a third of men (36 per cent) had never attended a follow-up appointment to assess their fertility, with a further third (33 per cent) only attending on one occasion.
Dr Allan Pacey said: "Trying to engage men with this subject is notoriously difficult. For those of us who run sperm banks, many men store their sperm and then do not contact us again, even though there are legal reasons to keep in contact.
"Our research suggests that there is a need to educate men about the benefits of attending follow-up fertility clinics and the long-term consequences of non-attendance."
Non-attendance was found to be more likely in men who had suffered fewer side-effects at the time of treatment, had a more negative experience of banking sperm and had a more negative attitude to the disposal of sperm.
Missing follow-up appointments to monitor fertility means cancer survivors do not receive education and options available to them. In many cases, men may also be unaware their sperm may be disposed of if ongoing infertility cannot be confirmed. This could have a major impact on their future life choices and ability to father children.
The study shows new education strategies are urgently needed on an ongoing basis from the time of diagnosis to inform men about the importance of fertility monitoring as well as encouraging more men to attend these follow-up appointments, with patients receiving timely letters from clinics highlighting the benefits of attendance.
Professor Christine Eiser said: "Sperm banking is highly valued by men who want the option to have children once cancer treatment is completed.
"Our research found that many men do not know how cancer treatment can affect their fertility or the likelihood of fertility recovery over the long-term. Having received a cancer diagnosis, patients immediately need to take in a lot of information regarding treatments and side-effects and it can be challenging to discuss potential longer-term effects on fertility at this time. We therefore need a mechanism to ensure that men are given information about fertility issues at a later date and certainly before treatment ends."
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Notes for Editors
Fertility 2013
This research will be presented at Fertility 2013 at 16:45-17:15 on Thursday 3 January 2013. Research presented is based on: Pacey et al. 2012. Hum. Reprod. 27 (11): 3132-9 Eiser et al. 2011. Hum. Reprod. 26 (10): 2791-8. These studies were funded by a grant from Cancer Research UK. Fertility 2013 is the eighth biannual conference of the UK Fertility Societies: Association of Clinical Embryology, British Fertility Society and Society for Reproduction and Fertility. The event takes place between 3-5 January 2013 in Liverpool, UK.
The Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE)
The Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) is the UK's only professional body representing embryologists and now has in excess of 800 members. ACE is run by a group of highly experienced senior embryologists and laboratory managers who are specialists in IVF, ICSI and associated fertility treatments and issues. They are experienced spokespeople who are regularly called upon to give informed and insightful comment on the key issues affecting the world of embryology and assisted conception.
ACE
https://www.embryologists.org.uk/
The British Fertility Society
The British Fertility Society is a national multidisciplinary organisation representing professionals practising in the field of reproductive medicine. We are committed to promoting good clinical practice and working with patients to provide safe and effective fertility treatment.
http://www.fertility.org.uk/
The Society for Reproduction and Fertility
The Society for Reproduction and Fertility represents scientists and students worldwide studying reproduction and fertility. Our aim is to enhance the knowledge and research of reproductive processes and fertility in man and animals and to disseminate information to the public at large.
http://www.srf-reproduction.org/
The University of Sheffield
With nearly 25,000 students from 125 countries, the University of Sheffield is one of the UK's leading and largest universities. A member of the Russell Group, it has a reputation for world-class teaching and research excellence across a wide range of disciplines. The University of Sheffield was named University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards 2011 for its exceptional performance in research, teaching, access and business performance. In addition, the University has won four Queen's Anniversary Prizes (1998, 2000, 2002, and 2007).
These prestigious awards recognise outstanding contributions by universities and colleges to the United Kingdom's intellectual, economic, cultural and social life. Sheffield also boasts five Nobel Prize winners among former staff and students and many of its alumni have gone on to hold positions of great responsibility and influence around the world. The University's research partners and clients include Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, Boots, AstraZeneca, GSK, ICI, Slazenger, and many more household names, as well as UK and overseas government agencies and charitable foundations.
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