Men diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment for the same are affected by low sperm storage that could be the result of chemotherapy drugs, as revealed by a new research.

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Warwick. They suggest that those men, who are diagnosed with cancer, should be recommended to store their sperms before going for treatment. The researchers in collaboration with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust developed a questionnaire on what advice clinicians offer to their male cancer patients, which was sent to oncologists and haematologists across the UK.

The response on questionnaire came from 499 clinicians, out of which only about 50% said that the patients are well informed about the sperm banking, while 21% had no knowledge about the local policies on sperm banking. Also, only 38% of haematologists and 26% of oncologists agreed that they record regularly the interaction with patients about storing their sperm. But, all the clinicians were of the view that providing information on such a matter is quite important.

The other thing that also comes out of the survey was that while advising for sperm banking, doctors' had certain self-assumed facts such as requirement for sperm banking depending on age, extent of illness and sexual orientation and their own moral dispositions.

"'We're urging clinicians to discuss sperm banking with all their male cancer patients. Improved awareness and access to training for clinicians would hopefully increase both the opportunity and the uptake of sperm banking", said Professor Geraldine Hartshorne, co-author of the study.