Male prepubertal fertility preservation: a review

Abstract

Chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapies often compromise future fertility. Preserving reproductive potential in pediatric patients who undergo treatment with such gonadotoxic therapies has emerged as a critical concern, particularly for prepubertal boys who are not yet producing mature sperm and therefore cannot use traditional sperm cryopreservation. Here, we explore the current landscape of prepubertal male fertility preservation, highlighting the most common: testicular cryopreservation. Despite some encouraging findings in animal models, clinical application in humans remains limited because of the lack of development finding a way to mature harvested spermatogonia. This review aimed to provide an overview of the current state of fertility preservation methods and identify areas requiring further research to advance fertility preservation in prepubertal male patients.

Keywords: Cryopreservation; child; fertility preservation.