The outcome of IVF/ICSI cycles in male cancer patients: retrospective analysis of procedures from 2004 to 2018

Introduction. Fertility preservation is an important aspect of quality of life in oncological patients, and in men is achieved by semen cryopreservation prior to treatment. Results of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in healthy infertile couples are comparable, regardless of whether fresh or cryopreserved semen is used, but are scarce in male oncological patients. Patients and methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) procedures in infertile couples where men had been treated for cancer in the past. We additionally compared the results of IVF/ICSI procedures with respect to the type of semen used (fresh, cryopreserved). Results. We compared the success rates of 214 IVF/ICSI cycles performed in the years 2004-2018. Pregnancy (30.0% vs. 21.4%; p = 0.12) and live-birth rates (22.3% vs. 17.9%; p = 0.43) per oocyte aspiration were similar between the groups in fresh cycles; however embryo utilization (48.9% vs. 40.0%; p = 0.006) and embryo cryopreservation rates (17.3% vs. 12.7%; p = 0.048) were significantly higher in the cryopreserved semen group. The cumulative pregnancy rate (60.6% vs. 37.7%; p = 0.012) was significantly higher, and the live-birth rate (45.1% vs. 34.0%; p = 0.21) non-significantly higher, in the cryopreserved semen group. Conclusions. The success of IVF/ICSI procedures in couples where the male partner was treated for cancer in the past are the same in terms of pregnancies and live-births in fresh cycles regardless of the type of semen used. However, embryo utilization and embryo cryopreservation rates are significantly higher when cryopreserved semen is used, leading to a significantly higher cumulative number of couples who achieved at least one pregnancy.