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.
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:
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.