The Impact of Cancer Treatments on Male Fertility
                     THE IMPACT OF CANCER 
TREATMENTS ON MALE 
FERTILITY
Introduction
 Cancer treatments can really create an impact 
on man’s fertility. Almost certainly, your 
infertility doctor will explain to you whether or 
not cancer treatment may affect fertility or 
lower fertility. However, not all doctors can 
speak about these issues, and only the 
experts can give you the proper suggestions 
and information. Otherwise, your family 
members, relatives, or parents of a child who 
is treated for cancer can explain to you in a 
better way.

 Your fertility is affected depending on the 
factors, including your baseline fertility, age 
at the time of cancer treatment, the amount 
(dose) of treatment, the duration (time 
period) of treatments, the type of cancer and 
treatment, the period of time that has passed 
since treatment, and other personal health 
factors.
 It is essential to understand the recommended 
cancer treatment may affect male fertility before 
starting treatment, if at all possible. Do ask 
questions such as:
 Could treatment raise the risk of infertility?
 Are there any recommended cancer treatments 
that might not cause male fertility issues?
 Which fertility preservation choices would you 
advise for people?
 What fertility preservation choices available at 
fertility hospitals? At an infertility clinic?
 Would you recommend any fertility expert 
(for example, a reproductive endocrinologist) 
that I could talk with to learn more about 
male fertility issues?
 Based on the treatment I am receiving, is 
condom use advised or not?
 Is birth control also suggested?
 What are the probabilities that male fertility 
will return after treatment?
 Many cancers can affect male fertility 
especially, Hodgkin's disease, and 
testicular cancer can affect many ways. 
Cancer treatments, such as 
chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and 
surgery, can create a temporary as well 
as a permanent harmful effect on male 
fertility.
How Cancer Treatments May Affect Your 
Fertility
 For your future health, cancer 
treatments are really important. But at 
the same time, they may harm your 
reproductive organs and glands that 
control fertility. Changes to your fertility 
may be permanent or transitory. Contact 
your fertility doctor to learn what to 
expect based on your treatments.
 Chemotherapy, specifically alkylating drugs, can 
damage male sperm and sperm forming cells in young 
men.
 Endocrine therapy, which is also known as Hormone 
therapy, can reduce the production of male sperm.
 Radiation therapy to reproductive organs and radiation 
near the spine, pelvis, or abdomen can lower 
testosterone levels and sperm counts, affecting 
infertility. Radiation also destroys stem cells and sperm 
cells that create sperm. Radiation therapy to the brain 
can reduce the production of sperm and testosterone. 
For some types of cancers, a procedure that protects 
the testicles from radiation is called testicular shielding.
 Surgery for cancers for pelvic cancers, 
including colon, rectal, prostate, and bladder 
cancer, and reproductive organs, can harm 
the organs and lymph nodes in the pelvis or 
nearby nerves, which leads to infertility.
 For other cancer treatments, talk with your 
doctors to understand whether or not other 
types of treatment, such as targeted cancer 
therapy and immunotherapy, can also 
impact male fertility.