Over the years, advances in chemotherapy and radiation treatments  have greatly improved cancer survival rates, but they still endanger patient  fertility. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage sperm production.  According to the American Cancer Society, sperm production slows down or stops  altogether after chemotherapy, and may take one to four years to return- in some cases as many as 10 years.

High doses of radiation to the testicles can kill the stem cells that produce sperm. Some treatments, such as bone marrow or stem cell transplants, use high doses of chemotherapy and sometimes radiation before the transplant. This can cause permanent sterility. Surgery to the  reproductive organs or the areas surrounding them may also reduce fertility.  While less critical in men than in women, age can also play a factor. Men over 40 may have difficulty recovering sperm production.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer, there are several  options available to help you preserve your fertility. If you have not yet  begun treatment, visit your Kansas City fertility  doctors to explore the following alternatives:

 
• Sperm Banking- An option for men who have reached puberty. In sperm banking, a man’s semen is collected and stored for future use. It can also be done even if the quality and quantity of the sperm is diminished. However, if you have an infectious disease such as HIV or hepatitis B, most sperm banks will not accept such       samples.
 
• Radiation shielding- The testes can be protected with a lead shield if cancer is present in other parts of the pelvis.

 
• Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)- In TESE, a small portion of tissue is removed from the testicles and any viable sperm cells are extracted for application in IVF-ICSI procedures. Sperm cells can also be frozen for future use. This procedure can also be performed after cancer treatment is completed.
 
• Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm       Aspiration (MESA)- Your Kansas City fertility   doctors can take sperm from the epididymis (the small, tightly coiled tubes where sperm cells ripen at the top of the testicles) for use in IVF-ICSI procedures. Like TESE, this procedure can also be performed after cancer treatment is completed.

 
• Hormonal gonadoprotection. An       investigational therapy, hormones are used to protect testicular tissue during radiation therapy or chemotherapy. According to the American       Society of Clinical Oncology, this method is not effective in preserving fertility when high doses of chemotherapy are used.

Consulting with your fertility doctors in Kansas City and your oncologist can help you find the best way to preserve your fertility.