Feasibility of semen cryopreservation in patients with malignant disease.

Twenty-two young men with testicular carcinoma or lymphoma were referred for semen cryopreservation before therapy that was expected to render them infertile. Criteria for potential fertility in the semen analysis after thawing included as sperm density of 20 x 10(6)/mL, motility in at least 40% of the spermatozoa, and an average motility grade of 2+. Five of the patients (23%) had semen qualities meeting the criteria for potential fertility. In contrast, 30 of 50 normal men (60%) of similar age screened for participation in an artificial insemination by donor program had semen meeting the criteria. Although the mechanism is not certain, it appears that young men with testicular carcinoma or lymphoma are significantly less likely to be candidates for serum cryopreservation than are healthy young men.