Living with testicular cancer
Some treatments for testicular cancer might affect your . You will usually still be able to get someone pregnant after you have recovered from your treatment. But this depends on what treatment you need.
Your doctor will talk to you about this before you start treatment. Even if there is a low risk that treatment will affect your fertility, your doctor will talk to you about sperm banking. This is when you collect and store your sperm for use in later fertility treatment.
Your doctor should talk to you about fertility before starting treatment.
After treatment you can have tests to see if your fertility has gone back to normal.
Most people who have testicular cancer have cancer in one testicle. You have surgery to remove the testicle.
This doesn't usually affect your ability to have children. But sometimes your remaining testicle might not work so well. This could reduce your fertility.
It isn't common to have testicular cancer in both testicles. If you do, you need surgery to remove them both. You are infertile after this surgery and won't be able to get someone pregnant.
Your doctor will talk to you about sperm banking before surgery.
You might need this surgery to remove lymph nodes at the back of your tummy (abdomen). This operation is called a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). It is a large operation.
The operation can damage nerves that control the release of sperm (ejaculation). This could affect your sex life and your ability to have children in the future.
This surgery can make you ejaculate backwards. This is called retrograde ejaculation. Your semen and sperm go back into your bladder instead of coming out of your penis.
If you have retrograde ejaculation you won't be able to make someone pregnant by having sexual intercourse.
Your doctor will give you more information before you have surgery. They will also talk to you about sperm banking.
for testicular cancer causes temporary infertility in most people who have it.
Usually, fertility goes back to normal some months after the chemotherapy ends. For some it doesn't recover but this depends on how much chemotherapy you have. This is more likely if you have a very high dose of chemotherapy.
Your doctor or specialist nurse will talk to you about using contraception during your treatment and for a while after you finish.
You might have if your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes at the back of your tummy (abdomen).
The radiographer directs the radiotherapy beams at an area down the middle of the abdomen, and sometimes at the groin. There is a small risk of the remaining testicle receiving a dose of radiation.
The testicles are where sperm are made. Your radiographer uses a lead shield to protect the testicle from the radiotherapy beams but there is still a small chance of damage.
In a healthy testicle, sperm are constantly being made, so for most people effects from the radiotherapy should usually only last for a few months after treatment ends.
Doctors advise that you use contraception during radiotherapy treatment and for about a year afterwards. Your doctor will give you more information and explain the precautions you should take and how long you need to take them.
It can help to talk to someone, as it can be very difficult to learn that you might be infertile after treatment. Your specialist nurse can provide help and advice. They can also let you know about support groups available in your area. Some people find counselling helpful.
That Cancer Conversation is Cancer Research UK's podcast. In the episode exploring infertility and cancer, we chat with people whose cancer journey has had an impact on their fertility.
It also features Professor Richard Anderson, Deputy Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Reproductive Health. We explore options that are available and what the future of fertility medicine could look like.
Last reviewed: 17 Jan 2025
Next review due: 17 Jan 2028
Collecting and storing sperm is sometimes called sperm banking. Your doctor will speak to you about storing sperm before you start treatment.
Chemotherapy uses anti cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. You might have it to lower the risk of your cancer coming back after surgery to remove a testicle. Or to treat cancer that has spread.
Surgery to remove the testicle is usually the first treatment for testicular cancer. Find out about surgery, and what to expect in hospital and after your operation.
Counselling can help you come to terms with your cancer. Find out what counselling is, the different types and how it might work for you.
Treatment for testicular cancer can affect your sex life. This is usually while you are having treatment. But it can continue for some time afterwards.
There are organisations, support groups, and other resources to help you cope with testicular cancer and its treatment.
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