NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Semen cryopreservation can be successfully performed in pubertal boys who are to undergo gonadotoxic cancer treatment, according to a report in the October issue of Fertility and Sterility. At present, however, predictors of sperm yield remain unclear.

Prior studies have examined the use of semen cryopreservation in adolescents, but thus far none have looked at whether serum hormone levels can predict sperm yield and the success of cryopreservation.

The current investigation, by Dr. Niels J. van Casteren, from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues, involved 80 boys, 13 to 18 years of age, who were referred for semen cryopreservation in advance of gonadotoxic therapy.

Due to the severity of their disease or fatigue, 13 of the boys were unable to provide semen samples by masturbation, the report indicates. In 14 boys, the samples contained no motile sperm and so cryopreservation was not performed. Thus, cryopreservation was possible in 53 boys, roughly two-thirds of the study group.

Levels of inhibin B were strongly linked to sperm count, the authors report. However, neither inhibin B levels, nor levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, or follicular stimulating hormone could identify successful sperm yield. Age was also not a useful predictor of yield.

“Because of their young age and the relatively short follow-up period, as yet none of the patients included in this study have requested the use of the banked semen for assisted reproductive technologies,” the authors point out. “In the near future, long-term follow-up data of assisted reproductive technologies after cryopreservation will become available in these childhood cancer survivors.”

Reference:
Fertil Steril 2008;90:1119-1125.