Sperm count and future challenges for cancer patients

Abstract

Cancer has significantly harmful effects on sperm count, motility and sexual life of the survivor, thereby adversely affecting the fertility and post cancer quality of life. Use of safer chemotherapeutic agents, protection from radiation damage, cryopreservation of sperm and testicular tissue and use of protective drugs to reduce testicular damage is recommended. More research is needed to safeguard fertility of cancer affected children as testicular tissue cryopreservation is the only fertility preservation option. Advanced understanding of in vitro sperm production is needed. In this era of advanced assisted reproduction, the minimum requirement for fertilization is one healthy sperm for one oocyte. Children born after chemotherapy do not have statistically significant increase in malignant neoplasms. Proper cancer counseling and referral for fertility preservation are of high importance to protect fertility. The focus of this review is to share knowledge of sperm formation, importance of sperm count, nature of damage to male fertility, remedies to overcome damage and to improve post cancer quality of life of male cancer survivors.