Guideline based approach to male fertility preservation

With the increased awareness that cancer and its treatments may have a substantial impact upon quality of life before, during, and after therapy, fertility preservation is now widely recognized as an essential component of care for all patients with a new cancer diagnosis. The emergence of formal fertility preservation guidelines from multiple professional societies has provided a framework for incorporating fertility preservation into clinical practice. Providers should discuss fertility considerations with new cancer patients at the earliest possible opportunity, prior to initiation of potentially gonadotoxic cancer treatments. Sperm banking via masturbation remains the easiest and most reliable method for fertility preservation, though a variety of alternatives exist for adolescents and adult males with azoospermia or those who are unable to provide a sample. Ultimately, care can be optimally delivered through a formal fertility preservation program that includes providers from multiple disciplines with the resources to provide comprehensive and expedient care.