Fertility concerns for young males undergoing cancer therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To review the treatment factors that can affect male fertility, and the practices at a large metropolitan children's hospital that has successfully developed a sperm banking program. The role of the nurse in the education of families and facilitating the sperm banking process will be described.


METHODS
Review of the literature and anecdotal information.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of increased survival rates over the past three decades in children diagnosed with cancer, the importance of preserving fertility has become paramount in the minds of health care providers, families, and patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Early identification and prompt referral for sperm banking by nurses are key factors in helping young male adolescents with cancer.
Hobbie
Wendy L
WL
Cancer Survivorship Program, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Associate Program Director, Pediatric Oncology Program, School Of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, PA 19104, USA. Hobbie@email.chop.edu
Ogle
Susan K
SK
Ginsberg
Jill P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D013074:Sperm Banks