Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oncologists’ knowledge and practice towards sperm cryopreservation in Arabic communities

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Survivorship Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Today, effective treatments are increasingly available to cancer patients to improve their survival and quality of life. However, both radiotherapy and chemotherapy are known to damage reproductive organs and compromise patients’ fertility. Hence, sperm cryopreservation performed before starting therapy is an attractive option for male patients. The objective of this study was to assess the level of awareness and the views about this option among oncologists from Saudi Arabia.

Methods

Oncologists from three different regions of the country were invited to participate in this study, which consisted of a self-administered questionnaire to test their knowledge, perception and referral practices regarding sperm cryopreservation.

Results

Survey response was 57%. Only half of the participating oncologists knew about the technique of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, while less than 20% referred their patients to a fertility specialist. On a scale of 1 (not important) to 10 (very important) the oncologists rated sperm cryopreservation to be 7.8 ± 1.8. Factors that were considered important before recommending this option were: type of cancer, age of patient, number of children, marital status and cost. Surprisingly, religion was not perceived as an important factor.

Conclusions

Despite a general lack of knowledge about the available fertility management options for cancer patients, the oncologists appeared to have a favorable attitude towards sperm banking.

Implications for cancer survivors

Improving awareness among oncologists would lead to more referrals to fertility specialists and thus benefit cancer survivors and their families.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Andrees MM, Castel V. Preservation of fertility in children and adolescents with cancer. Current situation and future perspectives. An Pediatr. 2009;71(5):440–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Van Castern NJ, Van Der Linden GH, Hakyoort-Cammel FG, Dohle GR, Van Den Heuvel-Eibrink MM. Effect of childhood cancer treatment on fertility markers in adult male long-term survivors. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2009;52(1):108–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Maltaris T, Seufert R, Fischi F, Schaffrahth M, Pollow K, Koelbb H, et al. The effect of cancer treatment on female fertility and strategies for preserving fertility. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2007;130(2):148–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Magelssen H, Brydoy M, Fossa SD. The effects of cancer and cancer treatments on male reproductive function. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2006;3:312–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Reis N, Beii Nk, Coskun A. Quality of life and sexual functioning in gynecological cancer patients: results from quantitative and qualitative data. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2009.

  6. Meseguer M, Molina N, Garcia-Velasco JA, Remohi J, Pellicer A, Garrido N. Sperm cryopreservation in oncological patients: a 14-years follow-up study. Fertil Steril. 2006;85(3):640–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lass A, Akagbosu F, Abusheikha N. A programme of semen cryopreservation for patients with malignant disease in a tertiary infertility center: lessons from 8 years, experience. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:3256–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bahadur G, Ling KL, Hart R, Ralph D, Wafa R, Ashraf A, et al. Semen quality and cryopreservation in adolescent cancer patients. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:3157–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chung K, Irani J, Knee G, Efymow B, Blasso L, Patrizio P. Sperm cryopreservation for male patient with cancer: an epidemiological analysis at the University of Pennsylvania. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2004;113(1):S7–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Schover L, Bey K, Lichtin A, Lipshultz L, Jeha S. Oncologists, attitudes and practices regarding banking sperm before cancer treatment. J Clin Oncol. 2000;20:1890–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Saito K, Suzuki K, Iwasaki A, Yumura Y, Kubota Y. Sperm cryopreservation helps in emotional battle against cancer. Cancer. 2005;104(3):521–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. National survey of physicians, practice patterns: Fertility preservation and cancer patients. Reviewer Arpi Thukral MD 2009.

  13. Quinn G, Vadaparampil ST, Gwede CK, Miree C, King LM, Clayton HB, et al. Discussion of fertility preservation with newly diagnosed patients: oncologists’ views. J Cancer Surv. 2007;1:146–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. King I, Quinn G, Vadaparampil ST. Oncology nurses; perceptions to barriers to discussion of fertility preservation with patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2007;12:467–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zapzalka DM, Redmon JB, Pryos JL. A survey of oncologists regarding sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive techniques for male cancer patients. Cancer. 1999;86:1812–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Nagel K, Cassano J, Wizowski L, Neal MS. Collaborative multidisciplinary team approach to fertility issues among adolescent and young adult cancer patients. Int J Nurs Pract. 2009;15(4):311–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Lee SJ, Blumenfeld Z, Oktay K, Rodriguez-Wallberg K, Schover L, Chubak BM, et al. Preservation of fertility in patients with cancer. N Engl J Med. 2009;360(25):2680–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee SJ, Schover LR, Partridge AH, Patrizio P, Wallace WH, Hagerty K, et al. American society of clinical oncology recommendations on fertility preservation in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol. 2006;24(18):2917–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Allen C, Harrison RF, Keane D. A survey of Irish consultants regarding awareness of sperm freezing and assisted reproduction. Ir Med J. 2003;96(1):23–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Quinn GP, Vandaparampil ST, Lee JH. Jacobsen PB, Bepler G, Lancaster J, et al. Physician referral for fertility preservation in oncology patients: A national study of practice behaviors. J Clin Oncol. 2009. (Epub ahead of print 2009 Oct 13).

  21. Schover L, Bery K, Lichtin A, Lipshultz LI, Jeha S. Knowledge and experience regarding cancer, infertility and sperm banking in younger male survivors. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:1880–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Petersen PM, Giwercman A, Skakkebaek NE, Rorth M. Gonadal function in men with testicular cancer. Semin Oncol. 1998;25 Suppl 2:224–33.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Holmes GE. Long term survival in childhood and adolescent cancer: five center study, U.S.A. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1997;824:180–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research has been funded by Princess Aljohara Center for Cancer Research, Prostate Cancer Unit, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We thank Dr. Anuradha Alahari of Accent Medical and Scientific Writing for help in editing the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Princess Al Johara AlIbrahim Center for Cancer Research, Prostate Cancer Unit, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Danny M. Rabah, Abdelmalek Merdawy & Mostafa A. Arafa

  2. High Institute of Public Health, Epidemiology Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Iman H. Wahdan

  3. Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Bassem Abourafe

Authors
  1. Danny M. Rabah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Iman H. Wahdan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abdelmalek Merdawy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bassem Abourafe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mostafa A. Arafa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mostafa A. Arafa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rabah, D.M., Wahdan, I.H., Merdawy, A. et al. Oncologists’ knowledge and practice towards sperm cryopreservation in Arabic communities. J Cancer Surviv 4, 279–283 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0140-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0140-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation