Iatrogenic Male Infertility
June 1998
in “
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy
”
TLDR Medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can harm sperm production, so freezing sperm before treatment is important for men who want children later.
The 1998 document addresses the problem of iatrogenic male infertility, highlighting the detrimental effects of medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy on sperm production. It underscores the necessity of sperm cryopreservation prior to initiating potentially toxic treatments, particularly for young males desiring future fatherhood. The paper points out the varying sterility risks associated with different treatments, with radiotherapy and alkylating agents posing significant threats, and the amplified risk when multiple drugs are used. It acknowledges that while treatments can lead to azoospermia, the disease itself may also impair fertility. The document advises careful use of hormonal treatments to address specific issues and concludes that iatrogenic male infertility is probably underreported, with limited success in treatment, and stresses the importance of considering the risks to sperm in future fathers, akin to the risks to embryos in treated future mothers.
