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Bitan R, Kedem A, Avraham S, Youngster M, Yerushalmi G, Kaufman S, Umanski A, Hourvitz A, Gat I. Cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa among patients with azoospermia. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024; 41:2099-2105. [PMID: 38878197 PMCID: PMC11338998 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa among patients with azoospermia. METHODS In this retrospective study spanning from October 1993 to December 2021, we examined men diagnosed with azoospermia who underwent testicular spermatozoa cryopreservation. Data from medical records included utilization and disposal of sperm samples, age at initial cryopreservation. We analyzed the data over 20 years using Kaplan-Meier curves, compared age with the log-rank test, and assessed hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 356 patients with a mean age of 32.1 ± 6 were included. Of these, 225 patients utilized thawed testicular sperm for fertility treatments, with 118 patients using all their frozen straws and 107 patients partially using their stored straws. Additionally, 29 patients opted for disposal (six patients partially used their testicular spermatozoa before disposal), resulting in 108 patients who neither used nor disposed of their straws. From a laboratory standpoint, nearly 90% of patients contributed a single testicular sample, which was subsequently divided and cryopreserved as straws, with a median of 4 straws per sample. Notably, in the older age group (> 35 years old), there were a significantly lower usage rate and a higher disposal rate compared to the younger age groups (p < 0.05 for both), corroborated by univariable Cox analysis. CONCLUSIONS This extensive study unveils unique patterns in the preservation and disposal of testicular spermatozoa among azoospermic patients. Most patients utilize a significant portion of their stored samples, while older patients tend to use their testicular spermatozoa less frequently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Bitan
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
| | - Alon Kedem
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Avraham
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | | | | | - Sarita Kaufman
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Ana Umanski
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
| | - Ariel Hourvitz
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itai Gat
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Menzel V, Richter E, Helke C, Bürk BT, Erb HHH, Leike S, Borkowetz A, Thomas C, Baunacke M. Utilization of sperm cryopreservation in patients with testicular cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:201. [PMID: 38630148 PMCID: PMC11024033 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05725-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We assessed factors that affect the utilization of sperm cryopreservation before 2021, when patients covered expenses, and the influence on quality of life. METHODS Between 2011 and 2021, testicular cancer survivors (TCS) at our clinic completed a questionnaire, including EORTC QLQ-TC26, covering sperm cryopreservation, sociodemographic details, post-treatment births, and artificial insemination. RESULTS After 5.7 ± 3.0 years, 279 participants (64%) responded to the questionnaire. Among them, 33% (91/279) of testicular cancer survivors chose sperm cryopreservation prior to treatment, with 11% (10/91) using it for insemination. Conversely, 2% (3/188) without cryopreservation reported unfulfilled desire to have children. Univariate analysis showed TCS with cryopreservation were younger (30.6 ± 7.1 (35 (21-59)) vs. 42.4 ± 10.9 (48 (22-81)) years; p = 0.001), had a lower BMI (24.2 ± 3.3 vs. 26.6 ± 4.6 kg/m2; p = 0.009) and a lower Charlson Score (> 3: 36% vs. 60%; p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed older age (≥ 37 years: OR 13.1 (5.5-31.2), p < 0.001) and lower education (middle school or less: OR 3.3 (1.6-6.9), p = 0.001) as independent factors associated with not undergoing cryopreservation. Regarding quality of life, multivariate analysis identified a lower infertility anxiety score (OR 4.3 (2.0-9.0), p < 0.001) and higher age (≥ 44 years: OR 5.4 (2.6-11.3); p < 0.001) as predictors for the absence of prior cryopreservation. CONCLUSIONS Age and education seem to impact the choice of undergoing paid sperm cryopreservation. Urologists should inform testicular cancer patients about costs and coverage. Importantly, the occurrence of unmet desires for parenthood is minimal among those who forego cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Menzel
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Emilia Richter
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Charlotte Helke
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Björn Thorben Bürk
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Holger H H Erb
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Steffen Leike
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Angelika Borkowetz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Thomas
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Baunacke
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany
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Bitan R, Magnezi R, Kedem A, Avraham S, Youngster M, Yerushalmi G, Kaufman S, Umanski A, Hourvitz A, Gat I. Autologous sperm usage after cryopreservation-the crucial impact of patients' characteristics. Andrology 2024; 12:527-537. [PMID: 37528799 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wide implementation of sperm freezing presents a growing burden on sperm banks. OBJECTIVES To evaluate sperm freezing and usage patterns over 30 years, according to demographic parameters of age at first cryopreservation and number of children, and indication for cryopreservation. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective, population based, cohort study included all sperm cryopreservation cases performed at a tertiary referral center from October 1993 to December 2021, among patients aged 18 years and older. First, we determined the interval between first sperm sample and use. Then, we examined sperm usage separately for: (1) age, comparing patients grouped into 5-year age cohorts; (2) paternal status according to number of children; (3) indication, comparison among seven indications. Secondary analysis included correlations between main age groups and paternal status versus the four most common indications found. RESULTS During the study period 1490 men who cryopreserved sperm met the inclusion criteria. Average age at cryopreservation of the first sample was 33.9 ± 8.1 years. Average age at first sperm use was 37 ± 8.5 years. Cumulative sperm usage was 38.7% after 17.8 years. Increasing age was associated with progressive increase in sperm usage rate and shorter preservation period. Use significantly decreased with increasing number of children. Examination of seven reasons for sperm cryopreservation found the highest cumulative sperm usage was related to azoospermia (67.7%), followed by functional cryopreservation (39.3%), oligoasthenoteratospermia (27.3%), other (26.5%), patient's request (24%), cancer (19%), and systemic disease (7.2%). Secondary analysis defined specific usage patterns mainly related to age and indication, with less of an effect based on the number of children. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION After decades of cryopreservation, the paradigm of sperm cryopreservation is mostly related to cancer patients. This should be reevaluated and evolve to include broader patient-targeted factors and perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Bitan
- Department of Management, Health Systems Management Program, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
| | - Racheli Magnezi
- Department of Management, Health Systems Management Program, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Alon Kedem
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Avraham
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
| | | | - Gil Yerushalmi
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
| | - Sarita Kaufman
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
| | - Ana Umanski
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
| | - Ariel Hourvitz
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itai Gat
- Sperm Bank & Andrology Unit, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
- IVF Department, Shamir Medical Center, Zerifin, Tzrifin, Israel
- Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Steigenberger C, Flatscher-Thoeni M, Siebert U, Leiter AM. Determinants of willingness to pay for health services: a systematic review of contingent valuation studies. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2022; 23:1455-1482. [PMID: 35166973 PMCID: PMC8853086 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-022-01437-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stated preference studies are a valuable tool to elicit respondents' willingness to pay (WTP) for goods or services, especially in situations where no market valuation exists. Contingent valuation (CV) is a widely used approach among stated-preference techniques for eliciting WTP if prices do not exist or do not reflect actual costs, for example, when services are covered by insurance. This review aimed to provide an overview of relevant factors determining WTP for health services to support variable selection. METHODS A comprehensive systematic literature search and review of CV studies assessing determinants of WTP for health services was conducted, including 11 electronic databases. Two of the authors made independent decisions on the eligibility of studies. We extracted all determinants used and related p values for the effect sizes (e.g. reported in regression models with WTP for a health service as outcome variable). Determinants were summarised in systematic evidence tables and structured by thematic domains. RESULTS We identified 2082 publications, of which 202 full texts were checked for eligibility. We included 62 publications on 61 studies in the review. Across all studies, we identified 22 WTP determinants and other factors from 5 thematic domains: sociodemographic characteristics, perceived threat, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, and other information. CONCLUSION Our review provides evidence on 22 relevant determinants of WTP for health services, which may be used for variable selection and as guidance for planning CV surveys. Endogeneity should be carefully considered before interpreting these determinants as causal factors and potential intervention targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Steigenberger
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria.
| | - Magdalena Flatscher-Thoeni
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Uwe Siebert
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
- Division of Health Technology Assessment, ONCOTYROL, Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Health Decision Science, Departments of Epidemiology and Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea M Leiter
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Rosenkjær D, Skytte AB, Kroløkke C. Investigation of motivations for depositing sperm during the COVID-19 pandemic. HUM FERTIL 2022:1-7. [DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2022.2142857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Rosenkjær
- Cryos International Sperm and Egg bank, Vesterbro Torv 3, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Anne-Bine Skytte
- Cryos International Sperm and Egg bank, Vesterbro Torv 3, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Kroløkke
- Department for the Study of Culture, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
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