ABSTRACT
STUDY QUESTION: How should fertility preservation in child and adolescent males receiving gonadotoxic therapies be managed?
SUMMARY ANSWER: There were 44 recommendations formulated to provide guidance on all aspects of fertility preservation in prepubertal boys and adolescent males in whom it is not possible to obtain sperm by established methods including semen cryopreservation and surgical sperm extraction; the recommendations covered topics from setting up a fertility preservation program, determining who is eligible, and counselling, to the practical aspects of the testicular tissue biopsy and cryopreservation.
WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: For young males facing gonadotoxic treatment, there are limited options for fertility preservation. For those who are unable to produce sperm (children and adolescents) testicular tissue cryopreservation is being increasingly offered prior to gonadotoxic treatment for potential future clinical use to restore fertility.
STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This Good Practice Recommendations (GPR) article was developed according to a predefined
methodology for ESHRE good practice recommendations. Recommendations are supported by data from the literature, if available.
PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: ESHRE appointed a European multidisciplinary working group with expertise in paediatric oncology, paediatric endocrinology, human tissue banking, and surgery, as well as reproductive specialists and researchers, who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in fertility preservation in prepubertal boys and adolescent males. The recommendations were formulated based on the expert opinion of the working group, while taking into consideration the published data. The draft document was then open to ESHRE members for online peer review and was revised in light of the comments
received.
MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: The multidisciplinary working group formulated 44 recommendations to provide guidance on all aspects of fertility preservation by testicular tissue cryopreservation, from setting up a fertility preservation program, determining who
is eligible and counselling, to the practical aspects of the testicular tissue biopsy and cryopreservation