Man produces sperm from testicular tissue frozen as a child in breakthrough trial
A 27-year-old man has produced sperm through a transplant of testicular tissue that was frozen when he was 10 years old, marking the first successful restoration of sperm production using cryopreserved prepubertal tissue. The procedure offers hope for boys who face infertility due to chemotherapy or other medical treatments before puberty. The sperm generated appeared normal, though its ability to fertilize an egg has not yet been confirmed.
- ▪The man had testicular tissue frozen at age 10 before undergoing chemotherapy for sickle cell disease.
- ▪Four tissue fragments were grafted back into his testicle and scrotum 16 years later, with two grafts producing mature sperm after one year.
- ▪The results come from a preprint study led by Prof Ellen Goossens at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and have not yet been peer-reviewed.
- ▪Over 3,000 patients worldwide have had prepubertal testicular tissue banked for potential future fertility restoration.
- ▪Prof Rod Mitchell of the University of Edinburgh called the outcome a 'proof of principle' and expects similar transplants to begin soon in the UK.
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It is the first time a transplant of cryopreserved prepubertal testicular tissue has been demonstrated to restore sperm production in an adult patient. Photograph: Mads Nissen/Panos PicturesView image in fullscreenIt is the first time a transplant of cryopreserved prepubertal testicular tissue has been demonstrated to restore sperm production in an adult patient. Photograph: Mads Nissen/Panos PicturesMen's healthMan produces sperm from testicular tissue frozen as a child in breakthrough trialExclusive: Sperm re-transplant offers hope that boys left infertile by chemotherapy could have biological children one dayHannah Devlin Science correspondentMon 4 May 2026 10.00 EDTLast modified on Mon 4 May 2026 10.01 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleIn a groundbreaking fertility trial, a man…
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