Fertility Outcome of Patients with Testicular Tumor

Background: Testicular cancer (TC) is the most curable type of cancer, with a survival rate of more than 95%. Oncologists are faced with the challenge that gonadotoxic cancer treatments can compromise future fertility, either temporarily or permanently. TC therapy can result in subfertility or sterility due to gonad removal or permanent damage to germ cells from adjuvant therapy. Our aim was to investigate the long‑term effects of TC treatments on male fertility and on the offspring of patients. Research method: In this review study, the databases including Sid, Magiran, Google Scholar, Pubmed were searched. The criteria for entering the study, the timeframe for publication of the article, was proportional to the purpose of the study. Results: Treatment for TC is a combination of orchiectomy and either radiotherapy or chemotherapy.Treatment can cause infertility by causing oligospermia or azoospermia. In addition, after treatment, DNA damage to the sperm can be seen. The lowest fertility rates have been observed among TC patients who were treated with chemotherapy followed by radical orchiectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. As radiation and chemotherapy can significantly compromise the DNA integrity and quality of sperm after treatment, semen cryopreservation before treatment should be recommended for most patients. There is no data to suggest that children born to TC patients post‑chemotherapy have an increased risk. Conclusion: Awareness of established fertility preservation techniques and assisted reproductive technologies is essential to ensure appropriate counseling of young cancer patients who wish to choose   biological parenthood in the future.

Keywords:

Chemotherapy , Fertility , Radiotherapy , Sperm Bank , Testicular Cancer