Fertility Preservation and Cancer Care: What San Diego Patients Should Know Before Treatment

A cancer diagnosis changes everything. If you’ve ever thought about having children or hope to in the future, it’s important to understand how treatment could affect your fertility. Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation can impact sperm production, sometimes permanently. That’s why fertility preservation is a critical step to consider before you begin treatment.

Fortunately, for patients in San Diego, there are expert-led resources available to help protect your ability to build a family — now or in the future.

How Cancer Treatment Can Impact Male Fertility

While it’s difficult to predict the long-term effects of a cancer diagnosis and medical care on one's sperm, cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and hormone therapy can cause temporary or permanent infertility in men.

• Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, including the germ cells in the testes that produce sperm. This can result in a low sperm count (oligospermia) or a complete absence of sperm (azoospermia).
• Radiation can affect fertility when it targets the testicles, pelvis, or abdomen. High doses may lead to permanent sterility. Additionally, cranial radiation can interfere with the hormonal signals that regulate sperm production.
• Surgery that removes the testicles or other organs, such as the prostate, can result in permanent infertility.
• Hormonal treatments may disrupt fertility, though these effects are often temporary and may reverse over time.

Fertility preservation allows you to plan for parenthood, even if your treatment temporarily or permanently affects your reproductive system.

The Sperm Banking Process

Sperm banking is a safe, effective, and widely used option for fertility preservation. The process includes:

• Sperm collection: You'll provide a sample, typically through masturbation in a private collection room.
• Testing: Your sample will be screened for sperm count, motility, and quality, as well as infectious diseases.
• Freezing: If the sample is viable, it’s frozen (cryopreserved) in protective vials and stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at extremely low temperatures.

Frozen sperm can be safely stored for decades and later used in assisted reproductive treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The Benefits of Sperm Banking in San Diego

San Diego is home to some of the nation’s most advanced reproductive care centers. California also leads the way in patient advocacy, with progressive laws requiring insurance coverage for fertility preservation when cancer treatments threaten future fertility.

At Sperm Bank, Inc., we have more than 75 years of experience helping patients take control of their reproductive futures. Our cryogenic storage facility is located within a secure vault, accessible only to authorized personnel via coded entry, and is continuously monitored with 24-hour motion-detection surveillance.

Learn More About Fertility Preservation in San Diego

A cancer diagnosis doesn't have to stand in the way of building your dream family. Sperm Bank, Inc. fully acknowledges the importance and complexity of sperm in the process of creating a baby, helping you select the best cryopreservation method that aligns with your specific needs and preferences. For more information about fertility preservation in San Diego or Orange County, request a consultation today.