Science is art: Preserving fatherhood
Sperm cells, which can be stored for future use by men who, because of cancer or other reasons, might not otherwise be able to father children.
Kazim Chohan, PhD (right), leads Upstate's Male Fertility Preservation Program, which came about through the efforts of Chohan and colleagues including pediatric oncologist Jody Sima, MD (left); urologist JC Trussell, MD; oncologist Rahul Seth, DO; and pathology chair Robert Corona Jr., DO. (PHOTO BY ROBERT MESCAVAGE)
-- sperm banking, where semen is collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen;
-- testicular sperm extraction, a surgical procedure for men with no sperm in their semen, in which sperm are extracted directly from testicles, and then frozen;
-- testicular tissue freezing, an experimental process that involves surgically removing and freezing tissue from the testicles of boys who are not old enough to produce sperm. The tissue could potentially be used later to restore fertility or produce sperm.
These techniques help men with a cancer diagnosis or temporary or permanent infertility issue. Learn more about fertility preservation by calling Upstate‘s andrology department at 315-464-6550.
This article appears in the summer 2017 issue of Upstate Health magazine. Hear a "HealthLink on Air" podcast/radio interview with Chohan and Sima where they discuss fertility preservation and the patients it can help.
