The effects of cryopreservation on semen from men with sarcoma or carcinoma

Purpose: This study evaluated prefreeze and postthaw semen quality before t reatment in patients with different types of sarcomas and carcinomas to det ermine whether cryopreservation would be of value for these patients. Methods: Semen specimens were obtained from 50 normal donors and from 21 pa tients with carcinoma and from 14 patients with sarcoma. The specimens were cryopreserved by a standard freezing procedure using TEST-Yolk buffer. Pre freeze and postthaw sperm motion characteristics were measured. Results: Prefreeze total motile sperm count was significantly higher in don ors (median: 129.6 X 10(6)/ml) than in men with carcinoma (46.9 X 10(6)/ml, P < .001) or sarcoma (66.3 10(6)/ml, P = .04). The percent motility and pe rcent linearity were significantly lower in patients with carcinoma. In pos tthaw specimens, total motile sperm count, curvilinear velocity and lineari ty were significantly lower in patients with carcinoma. Conclusions: The two patient groups in this study had poor semen quality wh en compared with healthy donors both before anti after cryopreservation. Sa rcoma patients had better semen quality than carcinoma patients. As cancer therapy in these men could significantly impair their reproductive potentia l, these men should be advised to preserve their semen before starting trea tment.