Freezing sperm
Sperm cryopreservation involves freezing sperm and storing them at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen, which has a temperature of -196°C. Freezing and storing samples at such temperatures stops all biological activity, allowing the samples to remain viable for many years. This process offers a valuable opportunity to preserve fertility, either to postpone it by personal choice or before medical or surgical treatment that may affect your reproductive function.
Why consider freezing sperm?
You may want to delay having children for personal reasons and want to preserve your fertility to reduce the risk of age-related decline. In addition, certain medical and surgical treatments can affect your ability to produce sperm, sometimes permanently. By providing a semen sample before such treatments, you can preserve your fertility and potentially use assisted reproduction in the future to have children.
Who is sperm freezing suitable for?
Sperm freezing is relevant for people of childbearing age because of:
- Assisted fertilization for infertility (usually for short-term storage)
- Before sterilization
- Social sperm freezing to postpone having children
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
- Surgical procedures – vasectomy, prostate surgery, bladder surgery, or spinal surgery
- Gender reassignment treatment (not permitted if legal gender has already been changed)
- Military personnel who may be sent to active combat zones
How the sperm freezing process works
1. Sampling
The sample is usually taken by masturbation into a sterile container provided by the clinic. In cases where it is not possible to attend the clinic, samples taken in a hospital ward or at home may be accepted if they are delivered within 60 minutes of collection. All samples to be frozen must be produced at the clinic for traceability reasons.
2. Recommendations before sampling
To maximize sample quality, it is recommended to abstain from sexual activity for 1 to 3 days prior to sampling, depending on your treatment plan.
3. Laboratory analysis
Once the sample is received, it is analyzed to assess sperm concentration, motility (ability to swim), and morphology (appearance).
4. Cryopreservation
If the sample is of good enough quality, a cryoprotectant solution is added to protect the sperm during freezing. The sample is then distributed into labeled tubes containing the full name, date of birth, a unique clinic number, and date of storage.
5. Storage
The prepared samples are gradually cooled and then stored in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196°C, ensuring long-term preservation.
Frequently asked questions about sperm freezing
When freezing sperm, approximately 50% of the sperm cells will normally not survive the freezing and thawing process.
Most men will need to come to the clinic once or twice to provide their sperm samples for freezing. In rare cases, we may ask you to come a second time if your sperm quality is low.