Parent recommendation to bank sperm among at‐risk adolescent and young adult males with cancer

Abstract

Background Adolescent and young adult (AYA) males newly diagnosed with cancer are often faced with making quick decisions about whether to cryopreserve (“bank”) sperm prior to treatment initiation. Given that parental influence is crucial among young patients, the present study examines the prevalence of and factors associated with parent recommendation to bank sperm. Procedure Parents of 13‐ to 21‐year‐old males newly diagnosed with cancer and at risk for infertility secondary to impending gonadotoxic treatment completed questionnaires typically within one week of treatment initiation. Medical and sociodemographic data, communication factors, and psychological factors were considered in a logistic regression model of parent report of parental recommendation to bank sperm (yes/no). Results Surveys from 138 parents (70.3% female) of 117 AYA males (mean age = 16.1 years, SD = 2.0) were analyzed. Over half of parents recommended banking to their sons (N = 82; 59.4%). Parents who received a provider recommendation to bank sperm (odds ratio [OR] = 18.44, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.20‐81.01, P < 0.001) or who believed in the benefits of banking (OR = 1.22, 95% CI, 1.02‐1.47, P = 0.03) were significantly more likely to recommend sperm banking. Conclusions Given parents’ role in influencing sperm banking outcomes, provider recommendation and promotion of banking benefits may influence parents and empower initiation of these sensitive discussions with their sons. Utilization of this approach should yield beneficial outcomes regardless of the banking decision.

Satisfaction with Fertility Preservation Decisions among Adolescent Males with Cancer: A Mixed Methods Study

“…Thus, in the context of a new cancer diagnosis, members of the family are affected and involved in making healthcare-related decisions. Along these lines, recent studies among male adolescents with cancer have identified parents, and particularly fathers, as key influencers in sperm banking decision making [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Due to their young age, adolescents’ future-oriented thinking may be developmentally limited, further highlighting the importance of family-centered research on the decision making experiences of this population [ 18 ].…”

Global Research Trends on Infertility and Psychology From the Past Two Decades: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study

“…The mental health of male infertile patients should not be ignored, as mental health also has a serious impact on men. In Jessica S. Flynn's study (70), more than half of the 138 parents preferred their sons to freeze their sperm, as evidenced by parental social pressure (71). Many studies have suggested that depression is as common in infertile men as in infertile women (72)(73)(74)(75).…”

Study protocol for fertility preservation discussions and decisions: A family-centered psychoeducational intervention for male adolescents and emerging adults newly diagnosed with cancer and their families

“…Parents are often unaware of their child's future parenthood goals [24], withhold their own perspectives about FP [25], and frequently defer the FP decision to their son [26]. Given that AEAs are developmentally limited in their ability to engage in future-oriented thinking [27], research has shown that parents (especially fathers) play a key role in sperm banking decision-making [28][29][30]. Specifically, when parents encourage the use of FP, AEAs are more likely to attempt FP [29][30][31].…”