Fertility preservation is the act of freezing and storing your healthy sperm so you can use them to have children in the future.

Your ability to have children naturally may be affected by having cancer or by the associated treatments. If you know that you want to have children, or think you may want to in the future, considering fertility preservation is a good idea.

The following cancer treatments can impact your fertility:

• Prostate removal surgery – If you have your prostate removed, you can still orgasm but there will be no ejaculation.
• Testicle removal surgery – If you have one testicle removed, the other testicle (as long as it is healthy) will make enough sperm to have a child. However, if both testicles are removed, you won’t be able to produce sperm or have children.
• Radiation therapy – Some types of radiation therapy can affect sperm production or cause birth defects.
• Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy may also cause birth defects, so use contraception to avoid conceiving during treatment and for a period after.
• Hormone therapy – some types of hormone therapy can lower your sperm production and impact your sex drive or erections; however, these symptoms may stop when you stop taking the drugs.
• Immunotherapy and targeted therapy – Researchers don’t yet know enough about the long-term effects of these therapies, but because they may cause birth defects, it’s best to avoid conceiving while having treatment.

Your health care team can help you determine whether fertility preservation might be a suitable option for you.