Does a specific age group impact sperm cryobanking efficiency among adolescent and young adult cancer patients?

Abstract

Objective: Fertility preservation is vital for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. Sperm cryobanking is a key option, but age-related factors influencing its efficiency remain unclear. This study evaluated the impact of age on cryobanking attempts, success rates, and disposition outcomes among AYA patients with cancer aged 11-25 years.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 298 AYA patients with cancer referred for fertility preservation counseling over 9 years. Data on cryobanking attempts, success rates, and disposition outcomes were stratified by age group (11-15, 16-20, and 21-25 years). Logistic regression was used to assess factors influencing these outcomes.

Results: The mean age was 16.0 years, with leukemia (22.5%), sarcoma (22.1%), and lymphoma (17.1%) being the most common diagnoses. Among the cohort, 72.1% attempted cryobanking, with lower attempt rates in the youngest group (59.6%) compared to 82.2% and 88.2% in the older groups, respectively. Younger age was a significant predictor of not attempting cryobanking (adjusted odds ratio, 5.059; P=0.001); however, age did not affect the success of sperm cryobanking among patients who attempted it. Disposition analysis showed that 77.2% of samples remained in storage, while 16.2% were discarded; although disposal was often influenced by family decisions, no significant predictors of disposal were identified.

Conclusion: Younger patients are less likely to attempt sperm cryobanking, although success rates among those who do are comparable across age groups. While most patients continued storage, higher disposal rates in younger groups highlight the need for strategies to increase participation and support informed decision-making.