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Article: Sperm and egg banking give patients hope for parenthood after cancer treatment.(A CLOSER LOOK)
- Article from:
- ONS Connect
- Article date:
- June 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Oncology Nursing Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Approximately 140,000 Americans of reproductive age or younger are diagnosed with cancer each year (Fertile Hope, 2007a). Patients are at risk for permanent infertility from their treatments. With advances in fertility treatment, more viable options now are available for patients. Nurses can help to ensure that patients are not left unknowingly infertile.
Although 91% of oncology physicians agree that sperm banking should be offered to all men at risk for infertility because of cancer treatment, Fertile Hope (2007b) reports that only 10% do so in their practice. In addition, only 24% of men choose to bank their sperm prior to potentially sterilizing cancer ...