Link Between Male Infertility and Risk of Testicular Cancer

Recent research conducted by Dr. Thomas Walsh and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco has found a connection between male infertility and an increased risk of testicular cancer. The study looked at data from roughly 22,500 men in California who sought treatment at infertility centers from 1967 to 1998. Walsh and his colleagues then compared that information to cancer registry data and found that those men who were found to be infertile were almost 3 times more likely develop testicular cancer than those who are fertile. In addition, the study found that men in couples that were seeking fertility treatment were 1.3 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than other men around the same age. Researchers considered that the link may lie in the treatment provided to infertile men, but concluded that this was highly unlikely, since no drugs are surgery are given for infertility. However, Walsh and his colleagues did state in the publication that “a more plausible explanation is that a common exposure underlies infertility and testicular cancer.” They also added that “prior work ... suggests that certain severe forms of male infertility are associated with faulty DNA repair,” which occurs when there are errors in the way the body responds to minor areas of damage in genetic material. Besides genetics, environmental factors also play role in the development of testicular cancer. In fact, the prevalence of the testicular germ cell, the most common cause of cancer in younger males, has increased significantly over the past 30 to 50 years in industrialized countries.

The study, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, is the largest of its kind so far in the U.S. Previous European studies also found a link between infertility and an increased risk of testicular cancer. Although testicular cancer is the most common cancer among American males from ages 15 to 34, compared with other forms of cancer, testicular cancer is rare (Mayo Clinic). The cause of this form of cancer is unknown, however, it is highly treatable, with different levels of treatment available to patients depending on the type and stage of their testicular cancer. As with all cancers, testicular cancer treatment is most effective when the cancer is caught early on. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosis or treatment of testicular cancer, our cancer malpractice attorneys can help. Your initial consultation is FREE and there is NO FEE to you unless we recover money. Please call Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today, or submit an instant inquiry now and we will respond within 24 hours. Our experienced attorneys serve clients with Bronx cancer malpractice, Brooklyn cancer malpractice, Queens cancer malpractice, Nassau cancer malpractice and Suffolk cancer malpractice cases.

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