Fertility preservation options for boys
Options for boys
Certain methods prevent or lower the risk of damage in boys. For example, the health care team can shield a boy’s testicles during radiation therapy.
They may also use a treatment plan that avoids or reduces doses of chemotherapy that are linked to infertility.
When damaging the testicles cannot be avoided, the below optionsare recommended to help preserve fertility.
Sperm banking
This is also called cryopreservation. It is a common, non-invasive option. However, it is only possible with boys who have gone through puberty.
This method involves collecting and freezing sperm. The sperm are then stored at a special centre.
Testicular tissue freezing
For boys who have not gone through puberty, freezing testicle tissue may help preserve fertility. This is still an experimental approach.
This method involves collecting and freezing testicular tissue. The tissue contains stem cells that would later produce mature sperm.
The health care team would then transplant thawed tissue back into the testicle at a later time or inject stem cells taken from the frozen tissue.