FRIDAY, Dec. 2, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to males in the general population, infertile men, or men with abnormal sperm counts, are 20 times more likely to develop testicular cancer, a new study finds.
The findings from the study of more than 3,800 men may change clinical practice for male infertility and allow for the earlier diagnosis of testicular cancer, which may improve men's chances for long-term survival, said researchers at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City.
"Patients and physicians should be aware that one cause of male infertility is cancer, particularly testicular cancer. Screening for testicular cancer should now become a standard part of all male infertility treatment," study lead author Dr. Marc Goldstein, surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine and surgery, said in a prepared statement.
He noted that the likelihood of finding testicular cancer in infertile men is one in 500 men screened. In comparison, breast cancer screening with mammography detects cancer in one out of 1,438 women screened.
Early diagnosis of testicular cancer is possible with a scrotal ultrasound test.
"Examination of all infertile men by a urologist is justified," Goldstein said.
The study appears in the Journal of Urology.
More information
The American Cancer Society has more about testicular cancer.
