Testicular tissue cryopreservation in boys. Ethical and legal issues: case report

Abstract

Sperm preservation prior to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is common practice in adult males. Spermatozoa are usually retrieved from an ejaculated sample although there are occasions when testicular tissue is used as the source. These techniques of sperm preservation present minimal ethical objections as the patients give their informed consent. Sperm preservation in children presents practical and ethical dilemmas in that the children cannot always give their informed consent, there are no regulatory guidelines and there is no guarantee that spermatogenesis is occurring. With the rapid advances in reproductive technology and the possible future use of immature germ cells by in-vitro maturation or transplantation, the demand for immature testicular tissue preservation is likely to increase. More information for the parents and oncologists with regard to this subject is needed to allow informed decisions to be made on behalf of the children. These issues are discussed using two cases of children having testicular tissue preservation.