Men who wish to preserve their sperm can now do so

Men who wish to preserve their sperm can now do so (Photo: iStock)

Fertility preservation is a pretty well-established concept. It is the process of preserving reproductive cells (sperm or eggs) for future use. Nowadays, portions of the testes or ovaries can also be maintained in specific circumstances. Any preserved reproductive material can be used to achieve pregnancy at an appropriate time in the future. Egg preservation tends to be more in the limelight than sperm preservation. But there are plenty of reasons why men too should be aware of fertility preservation.

The commonest reason to consider fertility preservation in men is when there has been a diagnosis that may affect future reproduction. Young men may sometimes be diagnosed with cancer, thereby requiring treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Such treatment modalities have the potential to affect the process of sperm production and may render such men incapable of fathering a child in the future. Preserving sperm samples before any such treatments should always be considered.