title: The Association Between Testis Cancer and Semen Abnormalities Before Orchiectomy: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Purpose:Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common solid organ malignancy in young men. It is a largely curable disease, so the extent to which it affects quality of life-including male fertility-is important. Abnormal semen analysis is highly predictive of male infertility. We conducted a systematic review of published studies that reported pre-orchiectomy semen parameters (as a surrogate for fertility) in TGCT patients to evaluate the association between TGCT and semen abnormalities before orchiectomy.Methods:We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications reporting semen parameters before orchiectomy in adult patients diagnosed with TGCT. Further, we assessed the association between TGCT and semen abnormalities that may lead to infertility.Results:We applied MeSH search terms to four online databases (PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Web of Science, and Ovid), resulting in 701 potentially relevant citations. After conducting a three-stage screening process, six articles were included in the systematic review. For each study, the participants' data and the study's quality and risk of bias were assessed and described. All studies showed semen abnormalities-including count, motility, and morphology-in men with TGCT prior to orchiectomy.Conclusions:TGCT is associated with semen abnormalities before orchiectomy. This review shows an increase in abnormal semen parameters among men with TGCT even outside the treatment effects of orchiectomy, radiation, or chemotherapy. To improve long-term quality of life, these findings should be considered when counseling patients on future fertility and sperm banking during discussions about treatment and prognosis for TGCT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Djaladat
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burner
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Pooja M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.affiliation: Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Dorsa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beroukhim Kay
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hays
keywords: fertility; germ cell tumor; orchiectomy; semen analysis; testicular cancer