Sperm banking for testicular cancer

Sperm banking means collecting and storing your sperm. You can then use the sperm later to have a baby through fertility treatment.

Some testicular cancer treatments can cause infertility, which means that you might not be able to get someone pregnant. 

Your doctor will talk to you about the risk of infertility before you start your treatment. You can then make decisions about collecting and storing sperm before you start. 

What is sperm banking?

Sperm banking is the name for the collection and storage of semen. Semen is the fluid that contains sperm. Sperm banking is also known as sperm cryopreservation or semen storage.

Some cancer treatments for testicular can affect your fertility. Collecting sperm before treatment means you might still be able to have children in the future if you want to. The sperm is frozen and stored until you decide you want to use it.

Your doctor will talk to you about storing sperm if your treatment might affect your fertility. You need to store sperm before starting your treatment.

Collecting and storing sperm

Most people go to a specialist fertility clinic or a clinic that is part of the hospital. There are a number of steps to sperm banking. Your healthcare team will explain this to you and answer any questions you have. 

Tests you need before sperm banking

Before you can bank sperm you need to have blood tests to check your general health and for infections. They include blood tests for HIV , hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 

Consent

You need to sign a consent form for sperm banking. This includes information about:

• what happens to the sperm if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself or if you die

• how long you want to store the sperm for

• whether your partner can use the sperm to have a baby if you die

• whether your sperm can be used for research or donated for use in someone else’s fertility treatment

• any other conditions you want to state about how the sperm can be used

You are likely to get a lot of information, and the consent form can be detailed. Do ask questions if you are unsure of anything.

Collecting your sperm sample

Before you start, your healthcare team will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. 

The guidance may change slightly, depending on where you go to provide your sample.  

To get the best sample you shouldn't have sexual intercourse or masturbate for 3 or 4 days beforehand. This helps you collect the highest number of sperm.

It is quite common for people to feel embarrassed when they go to the clinic. Some people find it difficult to produce a sample. It can be a rather pressurising situation. You may find it helpful to take your partner or friend along. Or you can take things that you know will help you, such as magazines. The staff at the clinic can also give you advice on how you can prepare for giving your sample. 

At the clinic a nurse will show you into a private room. You produce the sample by masturbating. You collect the sample in a sterile container provided by the clinic. The nurse will tell you who to give the container to afterwards. 

The clinic staff makes sure the sample is labelled correctly. It is then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. 

Most clinics recommend collecting at least 2 samples, and if possible 3. This depends on how quickly you need to start your cancer treatment. You need to leave at least 2 days between each collection.

You might be able to bring your sample to the clinic from home, but there are special guidelines so this may not be possible for some people. For example, you usually have to bring in the sample within 1 hour of producing it and you need to use a special condom or pot provided by the clinic. 

Surgery to remove sperm

If you are not able to provide a sperm specimen by masturbation, you might be able to have surgery to remove sperm. The surgeon can remove sperm using a needle and syringe (aspiration). Or they may remove a small amount of testicular tissue. This is under a general anaesthetic .

Your doctor will give you more information if this is a possible option for you. 

How long can I store sperm?

The usual time you can store sperm is 10 years. You can extend this up to a maximum of 55 years but you need to complete a consent form every 10 years. Your healthcare team will explain this in more detail.

It is important to let the staff at the clinic know if you change your contact details.