Only 27 percent of medical institutions are freezing the sperm of cancer patients before they start treatment to enable them to father children if they become sterile as a result of chemotherapy.
Most of the other hospitals will — upon request — refer patients to fertility doctors or other institutions, according to a survey by the Kyoto University Department of Urology released Monday.
Although the number of patients wishing to preserve their sperm or eggs is believed to be on the rise, institutions specializing in cancer treatment apparently lack the equipment, techniques, personnel and financial resources for long-term preservation, said Hiroyuki Nishiyama, an associate professor in charge of the survey.