Introduction: 

Cancer survival rate has improved dramatically over the last couple of decades due to advances in diagnostic techniques and therapies. Roughly 15% of cases of newly diagnosed cancer are in men younger than 55 years of age, and about one quarter of them are younger than age 20.

Fertility potential in cancer patients can be altered due to chemotherapy in both males and female. Research has shown that frozen sperm did just as well as fresh sperm in intracytoplasmic sperm injection in their success rates when it comes to pregnancy outcomes, even with the statistical difference between the fertilization rates being 62% for frozen sperm and 47% for fresh sperm. Hence, we suggest that sperm banking should be discussed with all patients at reproductive age, after reviewing fertility status & stage of cancer as an option for future fertility reserve. 

Objective: 

To check the awareness, knowledge, compliance of oncologists in Iraq towards the fertility preservation in males via sperm banking before commencement on chemotherapy

Method & Design:

This is a pilot descriptive study. A questionnaire of ten relevant questions was created on google survey to check the national Oncologists information and approach about sperm banking. The link was shared with most of the oncologists in the country and they were kindly asked to share it with other oncologists’ colleague throughout Iraq. 

Results: 

There were 54 respondents from different cities throughout the country. The majority of respondents were Oncologists from Erbil city 39% followed by Baghdad 13%, Duhok, Sulaymaniyah 11%, Ramadi 4%, Kirkuk 4%, Karbala & Mosul 2%.

Eighty one percent (81%) of the oncologists stated that they do discuss fertility desire with their patients. However, 67% were supportive of banking and have considered raising an awareness about sperm banking with their patients prior to chemotherapy.

Eighty percent (80%) of the Oncologists strongly believed that our society do need sperm banking centers to help those patients who need to be commenced on gonadotoxic medications and who needs surgical intervention of the vital fertility organs.

Conclusion & Discussion: 

Fertility preservation prior to chemotherapy is an important option that is currently in the process of continuous development in several countries. However, unfortunately, it is still not well recognized in Iraq. Furthermore, sperm banking is a noninvasive, feasible procedure especially when it only needs simple ejaculation. It is to time to start this important facility to help survival of cancer in having normal reproductive life and parenthood.