In Edinburgh, doctors have transplanted testicular tissue that had been preserved in childhood before chemotherapy into a 19-year-old patient. This is the first such case in the United Kingdom and only the second recorded in the world. The aim is to restore the young man's ability to produce sperm and, possibly, to become a biological father.
Chemotherapy saves lives, but it can sometimes damage the cells needed to form sperm. For boys who have not yet reached puberty, freezing testicular tissue may be an alternative to sperm preservation, which is not yet possible at that age.
The University of Edinburgh programme has been developing for about ten years. In the United Kingdom, testicular tissue has already been preserved for more than 1,200 patients. One day, this technology may help children not only overcome illness but also retain the chance of having their own family.
