Evaluation of semen quality in patients with malignancies referred for sperm banking before cancer treatment

Different cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can lead to azoospermia and even sterility for an unknown period. Whether the type of cancer could affect semen quality or not is under debate. In this study, we have reviewed semen parameters of men with cancer who deposited their sperm samples at the Avicenna Research Institute tissue bank before undergoing cytotoxic treatment. This descriptive retrospective study examined 73 cases referred to sperm bank, because of malignancy, prior to initiation of cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The data recorded were age, marital status, reproductive history, semen analysis reports and cancer history of the patients. Semen samples were analysed according to recommendations of the World Health Organization (1999) before freezing. Results of the analysis showed that 71.2% (52) of patients had oligozoospermia, 93.2% (68) teratozoospermia and 86.3% (63) asthenozoospermia. Different groups of cancer patients did not show any differences in oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia and asthenozoospermia. Impaired spermatogenesis even prior to cancer treatment indicates the importance of fertility preservation. As the majority of patients had suitable specimens for freezing and assisted reproduction, sperm banking is recommended to be performed promptly and before any treatment, especially surgery.