title: Implications of sperm banking for health-related quality of life up to 1 year after cancer diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sperm banking is recommended for all men diagnosed with cancer where treatment is associated with risk of long-term gonadatoxicity, to offer the opportunity of fatherhood and improved quality of life. However, uptake of sperm banking is lower than expected and little is known about why men refuse. Our aims were to determine: (i) demographic and medical variables associated with decisions about banking and (ii) differences in quality of life between bankers and non-bankers at diagnosis (Time 1 (T1)) and 1 year later (Time 2 (T2)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were completed by 91 men (response rate=86.67%) at T1 and 78 (85.71% response rate) at T2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 44 (56.41%) banked sperm. They were younger and less likely to have children than non-bankers. In a subset of men who were not sure if they wanted children in the future (n=36), 24 banked sperm. Among this group, those who banked were younger, more satisfied with clinic appointments and less worried about the health of future children. At T2, there were no differences in quality of life between bankers and non-bankers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For those who are uncertain about future reproductive plans, decisions depend on their health on diagnosis and satisfaction with clinic care. We conclude that extra care should be taken in counselling younger men who may have given little consideration to future parenting. Results support previous findings that the role of the doctor is vital in facilitating decisions, especially for those who are undecided about whether they wanted children in the future or not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2SF, UK. a.pacey@Sheffield.ac.uk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacey
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merrick
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arden-Close
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eiser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D003657:Decision Making; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011788:Quality of Life; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013074:Sperm Banks; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*