Preservation of reproductive function before therapy for cancer: new options involving sperm and ovary cryopreservation.

M S Opsahl
E F Fugger
R J Sherins
J D Schulman

Abstract

In summary, sperm cryopreservation for future ICSI and ovarian tissue cryopreservation for future autotransplantation are new opportunities to preserve reproductive options of great importance to patients with newly diagnosed cancer. Since patients must utilize these strategies before cancer therapy is initiated, and these patients will not have a future chance to benefit once therapy has damaged gonadal function, awareness of these technologies among oncologists, radiation therapists, and other colleagues who interface with the victims of cancer is a high priority.