A short report on current fertility preservation strategies for boys

Abstract

Background: Advances in cancer treatment have led to improved long-term survival after childhood cancer, but often at a price of impaired future fertility. Fertility preservation (FP) in male children and early adolescents poses unique challenges as efficacy is unproven. Objectives: To describe characteristics of testicular tissue cryopreservation (TTCP) specimens taken from paediatric and adolescent patients, stratified by age, and prior chemotherapy, if any, and to demonstrate evidence for germ cells. Materials and methods: Retrospective review of gonadal biopsies and clinical records of patients consented into the Royal Children's Hospital FP programme between 1987 and 2015. Tissue was sl..