Sperm Banking

Sperm banking is the gold standard intervention to preserve fertility in males.  Only males that have gone through puberty will be sexually mature enough to produce an adequate semen specimen.  These males are typically Tanner stage III and/or > 12 years of age, and have been in puberty 1-2 years. Semen is produced via masturbation but other methods such as mechanical or electro-ejaculation have been used.  Ideally patients should provide 2 specimens obtained 2-3 days apart. Standard semen analysis would be performed by the andrology laboratory and results will be available within one day to confirm whether the semen specimens contained sperm.

If sperm cannot be detected, or the patient is unable to produce a sample, other fertility preservation options should be discussed with the patient and his family.