Sperm Freezing (Cryopreservation)

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Sperm Freezing

Be in the Know. Sperm Freezing at a Glance.

  • Sperm freezing is recommended for all men who are interested in future fertility.
  • Sperm freezing is the best option against infertility and offers couples the option of having their own biological baby.
  • The most common reasons for sperm freezing are due to the diagnosis of cancer such as testicular and Non-Hodgkin’s disease, and prostate cancer.

What is Sperm Freezing?

Sperm cryopreservation, commonly referred to as sperm freezing is a procedure to preserve sperm cells.

About one-third of infertility cases are caused by fertility problems in men and another one-third of fertility problems are due to fertility problems in women.

At FSMG, we can treat severe male infertility, low sperm count, or total absence of sperm (azoospermia) with an advanced IVF treatment called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ISCI).

After your sperm is analyzed in the lab, we may freeze samples for later use. During IVF, a thawed sample provides your fertility specialist access to viable sperm samples.

Who Can Benefit From Freezing Sperm?

You may need access to frozen sperm to start your family, particularly in third-party reproduction cycles. There are other situations that call for sperm cryopreservation. Sperm freezing is an option for the following reasons:

  • Cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical treatments for certain types of cancer can result in infertility.
  • Relationship reasons. People may want to delay pregnancy until they find the right partner, but want to preserve their sperm when they are most fertile.
  • Donated sperm. Some men choose to donate sperm for couples who cannot get pregnant due to male infertility.
  • Transgender and transitioning. Sperm freezing is an option for individuals who are transitioning and would like to preserve their sperm for future use.
  • Other reasons include men undergoing vasectomy, travel, and men serving in the military.

What is the Sperm Freezing Process?

Patients will be screened for infection such as HIV, hepatitis, or syphilis. The male patient will provide a semen sample through masturbation.

If the patient does not produce sperm in the ejaculation, a sperm sample may be taken from his testes. The collected sperm samples are separated into multiple containers. Skilled lab technicians will use cryoprotectant, a substance used to protect the sperm from freezing damage. The frozen vials of sperm are stored in the lab until the patient is ready to use them again.

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