Critical appraisal:Meseguer M, Molina N, García-Velasco JA, Remohí J, Pellicer A, Garrido N 2006

Critical Appraisal

Article being appraised

Meseguer M, Molina N, García-Velasco JA, Remohí J, Pellicer A, Garrido N. Sperm cryopreservation in oncological patients: a 14-year follow-up study. Fertil Steril 2006 Mar;85(3):640-5 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16500332.

Applicable clinical question

In male cancer patients does the use of cryopreserved sperm result in pregnancy and live birth? Is there any evidence of complications? Is it better to cryopreserve sperm before cancer treatment?

Key Facts

Study Design

case series

Number of Patients:

186

Reported outcome(s):

A total of 320 semen samples were frozen before antineoplasic treatment. Six months later, 27% of the males recovered normal sperm production. From all frozen samples, 8.7% were discarded; the reasons were pregnancy achievement (55%), normal sperm production (28%), and patient death (18%). Finally, 5 IUI cycles and 30 ICSI cycles were done from frozen samples, with 1 and 15 pregnancies, respectively; results were comparable with those obtained in a control group.

Includes an economic evaluation

no