Does radiation therapy for testicular cancer make you sterile?

It is a risk: However, precautions are taken to minimize this unless both testicles are involved in which case sperm banking is suggested.

Not usually: We test the viability of the sperm and sperm bank ahead of radiation treatments. In most cases the radiation is not over the remaining testicle and a lead globe is placed around that testicle. In my experience every patient i treated who wanted a child later on had one. But if you want to be 100 percent sure you have to sperm bank.

It's a risk: There is published data to show that testicular cancer patients may carry a risk of 10-15% subfertilty after standard radiation treatment dose. One has to take into consideration that some patients may have suboptimal sperm count or motility even before any treatment. Sperm banking is usually part of discussion before radiation starts if one is concerned.