Although early development of testis appears normal in boys with Klinefelter syndrome (KS), spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) depletion occurs in midpuberty, leading to infertility.
Therefore, freezing of semen samples or testicular tissue sampling could be offered to boys with KS at onset of puberty. However, only in about half of patients with KS, adult or prepubertal, spermatozoa or SSCs can be observed, and to date, no clinical parameters are available to detect patients who might benefit from these techniques. Furthermore, strategies for the further use of the cryopreserved material are still under investigation. Retrieval of spermatogonial cells in prepubertal boys with KS should therefore still be viewed as experimental and patients and their parents must be counseled accordingly.
Written by:
Gies I, De Schepper J, Goossens E, Van Saen D, Pennings G, Tournaye H. Are you the author?
Department of Pediatrics, UZ Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Reference: Fertil Steril. 2012 Aug;98(2):284-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.04.023
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22608314
UroToday.com Male Infertility & Reproduction Section
