Male fertility preservation in oncology: patients’ profile and clinical guidance importance

AIMS: To evaluate the profile of men with cancer who performed semen cryopreservation prior/during treatment and address the importance of this method for reproductive health. METHODS: This was a transversal and retrospective study which used a database from a Reproductive Medicine Center located in Brazil. A total of 150 male patients who performed semen cryopreservation due to cancer diagnosis, from January 2014 to December 2017, were included. RESULTS: The profile of men seeking fertility preservation prior/during treatment for cancer was young adults, single, childless, with higher education. Oncologists were the ones who reported more patients for semen cryopreservation followed by urologists and hematologists. With regards to tumor diagnosis frequency, testicular was the most diagnosed, followed by Hodgkin’s/non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, prostate and rectal tumor, along with retroperitoneal tumor. CONCLUSION: Data brought the reflection on the cultural and financial barriers involved for the accomplishment of cryopreservation. Health professionals attending cancer patients should consider the importance of educational and incentive activities to prevent male fertility. Future research on the subject should carried out.