This study was designed to evaluate the use of sperm frozen before testicular cancer treatment and to analyse results of infertility treatment. A total of 166 male patients were referred for sperm freezing before testicular cancer treatment from 1995 to 2007. Cancer treatment, semen analysis, assisted reproduction techniques, and statistical evaluation were basic interventions. Sperm pathology analysis before and after cancer treatment, survival of patients, and pregnancy after infertility treatment were analysed. Testicular cancer was diagnosed and treated in 226 men from 1995 to 2007. A total of 166 men (73.5 %) decided to freeze their semen before cancer treatment. Seminoma was diagnosed in 87 men (52.4 %), nonseminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) in 79 men (47.6 %). A total of 121 men (72.9 %) were of stage I. Azoospermia was diagnosed in 9 men (5.4 %), semen was cryopreserved in 157 patients. Median sperm concentration was 8.5 mil/ml in the seminoma group and 9.4 mil/ml in the NSGCT group – a non-significant difference. Until now, 5 patients (2.9 %) have died and 27 patients (17.2 %) have attended for infertility treatment. Median fresh sperm concentration was 4.4 mil/ml, median progressive sperm motility 3.7 %, azoospermia was found in 4 men (14.8 %). The confounding female infertility factor was found in 19 (70.4 %) female partners. Cryopreserved semen was used in 25 couples (92.6 %), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was the most effective procedure – 36 cycles resulted in 12 pregnancies and 9 deliveries. Testicular cancer survivors have a good chance of fathering a child by using cryopreserved sperm and ICSI procedure.

Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and Faculty Hospital Brno

Department of Urology Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and Faculty Hospital Brno

Tissue Bank Faculty Hospital Brno

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