Sperm Banking for Adolescent Males With Newly Diagnosed Cancer
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Klosky et al identified factors associated with sperm banking among adolescent males with newly diagnosed cancer who were at increased risk for treatment-related fertility loss.
The study included 146 adolescents aged 13 to 22 years (mean age = 16.5 years) with Tanner stage ≥ 3, their parents, and medical providers from 8 pediatric oncology centers in the United States and Canada. Participants completed self-report questionnaires within 1 week of treatment initiation.
Factors Associated With Banking
Among patients, 78 (53.4%) made a sperm collection attempt, with 64 (43.8%; 82.1% of those attempting collection) successfully banking sperm. Factors significantly associated with making a sperm collection attempt were adolescent consultation with a fertility specialist (odds ratio [OR] = 29.96, P = .007), parent recommendation to bank (OR = 12.30, P = .007), and higher Tanner stage (OR = 5.42, P = .003). Factors significantly associated with successful sperm banking were adolescent history of masturbation (OR = 5.99, P = .025), banking self-efficacy (OR = 1.23, P = .012), parent recommendation to bank (OR = 4.62, P = .010), and medical team recommendation to bank (OR = 4.26, P = .008).
The investigators concluded: “Although findings suggest that banking is underutilized, modifiable adolescent, parent, and provider factors associated with banking outcomes were identified and should be targeted in future intervention efforts.”
The study was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the U.S. Public Health Service grants and the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.
James L. Klosky, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is the corresponding author of the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
