Abstract
Background
Treatment advancements have improved young cancer patients’ survival rate considerably. Fertility preservation has become a very important tool in the prevention of treatment-induced gonadal toxicity. This study aimed to examine hematologists’ awareness of its necessity and importance.
Methods
Questionnaires were mailed to the directors of 230 institutes that treated hematological malignancies in adults. The directors were asked to provide information regarding their institutes, collaboration with sperm banks, the number of patients treated per year, selection criteria for patients providing information, and their awareness of and attitudes toward sperm preservation.
Results
The response rate was 40.0%. Municipal and private hospitals treated patients significantly less frequently relative to university hospitals (p = .002). Of the 92 participating hematology institutions, 17 included sperm banks and 69 collaborated with sperm banks in neighboring institutions. Many participants stated that sperm preservation should be performed before chemotherapy; however, only 38% provided sperm preservation information to all patients. Participants in facilities without sperm banks exhibited significantly lower levels of knowledge regarding sperm preservation, relative to those from institutions with sperm banks, and found discussing fertility preservation burdensome. This trend was identical to that observed in a survey conducted 10 years earlier.
Conclusion
Many hematologists did not appear to possess sufficient knowledge regarding fertility preservation. Moreover, few institutions included sperm banks, and a considerable burden was exerted on hematologists. The introduction of support systems is required to promote sperm preservation before cancer treatment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Siegel R, Naishadham D, Jemal A (2013) Cancer statistics, 2013. CA cancer J Clin 63:11–30
Relander T, Cavallin-Stahl E, Garwicz S et al (2000) Gonadal and sexual function in men treated for childhood cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol 35:52–63
Clark ST, Radford JA, Crowther D et al (1995) Gonadal function following chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease: a comparative study of MVPP and seven-drug regimen. J Clin Oncol 13:134–139
Lee SI, Schver LR, Partridge AH et al (2006) American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendation on fertility preservation in cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 24:2917–2931
Loren AW, Mangu PB, Beck LN et al (2013) Fertility preservation for patients with cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Clin Oncol 31:2500–2510
The Japanese Society of Clinical Oncology (2017) Clinical practice guideline for fertility preservation in childhood, adolescent and young adult cancer patients (in Japanese): The Japanese Society of Clinical Oncology
Yumura Y, Tsujimura A, Okada H et al (2018) Current status of sperm banking for young cancer patients in Japanese nationwide survey. Asian J Androl. https://doi.org/10.4103/aja.aja_74_17
Muller I, Oude Ophuis RJA, Broekmans FJM et al (2016) Semen cryopreservation and usage rate for assisted reproductive technology in 898 men with cancer. Reprod Biomed Online 32:147–153
Johnson MD, Cooper AR, Jungheim ES et al (2013) Sperm banking for fertility preservation: a 20-year experience. Eur J Obst Gynecol Reprod Biol 170:177–182
Daudin M, Rives N, Walschaerts M et al (2015) Sperm cryopreservation in adolescence and young adults with cancer: results of the French national sperm banking network (CECOS). Fertil Steril 103:478–486
Depalo R, Falagario D, Masciandaro P et al (2016) Fertility preservation in males with cancer: 16-year monocentric experience of sperm banking and post-thaw reproductive outcomes. Ther Adv Med Oncol 8:412–420
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Japan. Annual Report of Nationwide Survey 2013. The Japanese Data Center for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation/The Japan Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: http://www.jdchct.or.jp/data/report/2013/. Accessed 12 Oct 2016
Tantiana CS, Bonetti FF, Pasqualotto PQ et al (2009) Sperm banking for male cancer patients: social and semen profiles. Int Braz J Urol 35:190–198
Agarwal A, Ranganathan P, Kattal N et al (2004) Fertility after cancer: a prospective review of assisted reproductive outcome with banked semen specimens. Fertil Steril 81:342–348
Schover LR, Brey K, Lichtin A et al (2002) Oncologist’s attitudes and practice regarding banking sperm before cancer treatment. J Clin Oncol 20:1890–1897
Watanabe C, Takahashi M, Kai I (2007) Hematologist practices and attitude toward chemotherapy-related infertility (in Japanese). Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. [Jpn J Cancer Chemother] 34:891–896
Kobayashi T, Shin T, Shimomura Y et al (2016) A questionnaire survey on attitude toward sperm cryopreservation among hematologists in Japan. Int J Hematol 105:349–352
Achille MA, Rosberger Z, Robitaille R et al (2006) Facilitators and obstacles to sperm banking in young men receiving gonadotoxic chemotherapy for cancer: the perspective of survivors and health care professionals. Hum Reprod 21:3206–3216
Acknowledgements
This national survey was conducted with the assistance of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. We thank Editage (http://www.editage.jp) for English language editing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
All authors have no competing financial interests to declare.
About this article
Cite this article
Yumura, Y., Tsujimura, A., Okada, H. et al. Recognition and attitudes of Japanese hematologists on sperm banking before chemotherapy: present status from nationwide questionnaire survey. Int J Clin Oncol 24, 94–102 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-018-1334-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-018-1334-z