• If you haven’t already talked about having kids, you can admit that the conversation may be coming “too soon” or “out-of-the-blue.” Saying it out loud will let your partner know that you feel uncomfortable too.
    • Sometimes it is best to address these feelings of awkwardness up-front saying something like:
      • “Although it may seem weird to talk about our future right now, thinking about the future with you will help me get through my cancer treatment. I want to talk to you about banking my sperm so once we get through this treatment, we can have the option of having children together”.
      • You can stress that this will provide you the option to have children in the future. Whether you use that sperm or not, is a decision that you both can make in the future. “I know that we’ve been going through a lot lately. Having cancer really forces you to make a lot of decisions. One of the things I am thinking about doing is banking my sperm. This is so that we could have kids together in case my sperm is damaged during the treatment process...”
    • If you feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to say that it is something that will provide you options and is not a decision about whether or not to have kids in the future.
    • Having these discussions may bring you closer together. Your partner may also be wondering what the future might hold. Bringing up sperm banking may give you both hope about what your future may bring.
  • Ultimately, it is your choice whether or not you want to tell your partner that you are banking your sperm as it is your choice to do so. These conversations can be uncomfortable. You can always contact a couple’s counselor if you want to have some guidance on these topics.