title: Fertility in men with testicular germ cell tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of fertility or infertility in men before and after treatment for unilateral testicular cancer. The results were compared with the lifetime prevalence of infertility in the general population (20%-28%).
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  University referral center for testicular cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-six patients treated for testicular cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire on fertility and fertility-related factors before and after treatment of disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of fertility before and after treatment for testicular cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before the cancer was diagnosed, 79 (66%) of 120 couples who attempted to conceive succeeded within 1 year. After treatment, 38 (43%) of 88 couples conceived within 1 year. Seven couples used cryopreserved sperm to conceive a child after treatment. The different treatment modalities did not significantly influence the outcome of patients' wish for children. Congenital malformations were recorded in approximately 4% of the children born before or after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the majority of the patients with testicular cancer have a fulfilled wish with regard to children, it seems to be more difficult to father a child after treatment compared with the case in the general population. Because it is not possible to predict which patient will have fertility problems after treatment, cryopreservation should be offered to every testicular cancer patient. An increased risk for congenital malformations was not observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, The, Nijmegen, Netherlands. r.spermon@uro.azn.nl
authors.forename: J Roan
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Spermon
authors.forename: Lambertus A L M
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kiemeney
authors.forename: Eric J H
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Alex M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wetzels
authors.forename: J Alfred
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Witjes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000209:etiology; D004542:Ejaculation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D018237:Germinoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*