New Orleans, LA, May 17, 2015 - Fertility counseling for men with cancer, prior to initiating treatment, can increase the rate of sperm preservation, according to a new survey presented during the 110^th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). The research will be highlighted by study authors during a special press conference. Tobias S. K&ouml,hler,MD, MPH, FACS, associate professor of Surgery at Southern Illinois University will moderate the session at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA on May 17, 2015 at 9 a.m. CT.

Chemotherapy can cause infertility in men, affect his quality and number of sperm produced and can be temporary or permanent. If it is temporary, men will become fertile again once they have finished treatment, but may vary by person. However, despite the understanding that chemotherapy can lead to permanent infertility, many clinicians fail to incorporate fertility preservation for cancer patients prior to treatment. With this in mind, researchers at Brown University, Providence, RI, compared the likelihood of newly-diagnosed cancer patients preserving their sperm after receiving a formalized fertility counseling session versus those who did not.

Evaluating a single institution, researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 411 men, with an average age of 42.3, with newly-diagnosed cancer, from 1998 - 2003, prior to the start of their chemotherapy treatment. The study founda significant increase in sperm banking rates among patients who received fertility counseling as part of a standardized nursing education program, compared to those who did not. Furthermore, after the initiation of counseling, the odds of sperm banking increased 2.9 times for those who received counseling. Also important to note, the odds of sperm banking among these patients were increased 3.8 times for those who did not have children.

Further research showed:

• Nearly a quarter (23.4 percent) of the 411 men studied received fertility counseling, and of those 16.7 percent underwent sperm banking compared to 6.2 percent of the 321 men who did not receive counseling.
• Of those who did not receive counseling, approximately 6 percent preserved their sperm before and after initiation of the nursing education program.
• After the nursing education program was implemented, 17 percent of those who received counseling preserved their sperm.

"These findings shed light on one of the many important roles counseling plays for newly-diagnosed cancer patients," explained Dr. K&ouml,hler. "Often fertility preservation is the last thing on a patient's mind when diagnosed with cancer, so it's particularly important to implement counseling and education services prior to the initiation of treatment."

NOTE TO REPORTERS: Experts are available to discuss this study outside normal briefing times. To arrange an interview with an expert, please contact the AUA Communications Office at 443-909-0839 or email cfrey@AUAnet.org.

About the American Urological Association: The 110^th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association takes place May 15-19 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 21,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Contact:
Christine Frey, AUA
443-909-0839
cfrey@auanet.org