Les adolescents traités pour un cancer et la préservation de leur fertilité. Aspects psychologiques

Sperm preservation should be proposed to all the adolescents undergoing treatment for a cancer, because fertility is a major desire of young adults cured of a cancer. Proposing sperm preservation is among the oncologist's concerns about preventing sequels. However, this proposition can give rise to psychological problems as it concerns cancer and adolescence. For sperm collection to take place in a favourable climate with the adolescent's approval, their psychology and behaviour towards cancer should be well apprehended: they worry about their body, their appearance, their sexuality, their relations with their peers and their parents, their value, their narcissism, and their identity; but they can also be anxious, pessimistic about their future, disillusioned with parenthood, afraid of transmitting cancer, etc. Knowing these aspects helps one to understand and overcome any reluctance and to attenuate feelings of guilt and suffering in case of failure. Thus, a balance can be struck between overrespecting superficial opposition and imposing a decision that is not authentically theirs. In addition, closer relations nurtured between the sperm bank and oncohaematology departments, adolescent-friendly information material, and a better knowledge of adolescent psychology could also be helpful.