title: Fertility preservation in males with cancer: 16-year monocentric experience of sperm banking and post-thaw reproductive outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anticancer treatments can impair male fertility. Cryopreservation of semen is an efficient procedure for fertility preservation. The aim of this study was to evaluate pre-freeze semen parameters among the various types of cancer, post-thaw sperm viability and reproductive outcome of samples used for assisted reproductive treatment (ART).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 721 men with cancer that had their semen cryopreserved in our bank in 1999-2015. Semen analysis and cryopreservation were performed before the start of antineoplastic treatment, according to the World Health Organization recommendations, European Commission and Italian law.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 721 patient, 196 had seminoma of the testis, 173 Hodgkin's lymphoma, 108 mixed testicular tumors, 89 germ cell tumors, 67 other tumors, 46 hematological tumors, and 42 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The mean age of patients was significantly lower in Hodgkin's lymphoma compared to other tumors. Statistically significant lower volume, sperm count and number of straws stored were observed respectively in Hodgkin's lymphoma, mixed testicular tumor and hematological tumors. Nineteen patients used their frozen semen for 20 ART cycles. After thawing a significant reduction of motility and vitality was recorded. A lower fertilization rate was observed in patients affected by testicular tumor and lymphoma (35.42% and 50%) compared with other cancers (71.43%). No significant differences were observed in terms of cleavage and implantation rates. A total of five pregnancies and seven healthy newborns were achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fertility preservation before gonadotoxic therapy is of great importance to patients with cancer and must be indicate before the start of treatment.
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Raffaella
authors: R
authors: Depalo
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11, Bari 70124, Italy.
authors: Doriana
authors: D
authors: Falagario
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Paola
authors: P
authors: Masciandaro
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Nardelli
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Margherita Patrizia
authors: MP
authors: Vacca
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Pasquale
authors: P
authors: Capuano
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Giorgina
authors: G
authors: Specchia
authors: Unit of Pathophysiology of Human Reproduction and Gametes Cryopreservation, Bari, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Battaglia
keywords: IVF outcome with frozen semen; assisted reproductive technology; cancer; cryopreservation; fertility preservation; sperm bank