A cross Canada survey of sperm banking practices in pediatric oncology centers.
BACKGROUND
Childhood cancer survivors have identified fertility preservation as a major concern. Sperm banking is an established fertility preservation option in pubertal males. We sought to describe current practices in Canadian pediatric oncology programs, and to identify perceived barriers to sperm banking for male adolescents.


METHODS
A questionnaire was developed to (1) describe current sperm banking practices and facilities; (2) report on the utilization of sperm banking; and (3) identify barriers to sperm banking and possible solutions to improve current practices. A healthcare professional with an interest in fertility preservation within each institution was approached to participate in the study.


RESULTS
Fifteen of 16 institutions participated, 2 have fertility preservation teams. Only one has written guidelines or adolescent focused educational material. Over 2 years, 50/262 (19%) adolescents in 12 institutions successfully banked a specimen. In 11 of these, additional information was available: of 85/172 (49%) adolescents offered the option to bank, 38/85 (45%) subsequently attempted. Reported barriers to sperm banking included the pressure to start therapy and restricted banking hours. Formal education of healthcare providers in fertility preservation practices, provision of financial support for families, and an adolescent focused approach were identified as important initiatives to improve sperm banking.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a disparity in current sperm banking practices in Canada and at present, <25% of eligible male adolescents attempt to bank sperm. The development of a fertility preservation team, adolescent-specific guidelines, adolescent friendly sperm banking units, financial support, and improving knowledge translation among professionals and patients may improve the rates of banking.
Chong
Amy Lee
AL
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. amy.leechong@sickkids.ca
Gupta
Abha
A
Punnett
Angela
A
Nathan
Paul C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D002170:Canada; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003625:Data Collection; D005298:Fertility; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D013074:Sperm Banks / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*