Sperm Preservation

The Fertility Center is committed to meeting the unique reproductive needs of cancer patients and survivors. Each year, about 140,000 Americans under the age of 45 are diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, survival rates are higher than ever before, and increasing fertility preservation options are providing hope for parenthood after sterilizing cancer treatments.

Primary threats for male patients with cancer are compromised sperm production, quality and motility as well as DNA damage caused by exposure to chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery on reproductive organs also can affect fertility.

The most proven and successful method of fertility preservation for men is sperm banking prior to cancer treatments. Aside from hereditary genetic syndromes, there is no evidence that a history of cancer or treatment increases the risk of cancer or congenital abnormalities in survivors’ offspring. 

Prior to cancer treatment, patients undergo a semen analysis to access their reproductive status.  Testicular sperm extraction may be necessary for men with no sperm in their ejaculate. Although available space is limited, the Fertility Center offers cryogenic sperm preservation and storage for our patients.

Others in need of sperm banking are referred to Fairfax Cryo Bank at www.fairfaxcryobank. Fairfax also is an excellent source for donor sperm, which is not available through the Fertility Center.

Medical professionals at the Fertility Center continue to foster relationships with oncologists in the Chattanooga area to help ensure that surrounding communities are educated about cancer-related infertility and options for family building. Additional information and resources for cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility are available through the Fertile Hope national organization at www.fertilehope.org.   

A sperm banking kit specifically designed for cancer patients is available by mail. Kits are free of charge to interested patients. Click www.liveonkit.com or call 800.466.2797 for more information. Upon using the kit, patients will be charged a competitive rate to bank their sperm, with a portion donated back to Fertile Hope and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. These two organizations have teamed up with Cryogenic Laboratories to provide an easy and private way to bank sperm before starting potentially sterilizing treatments.