Sperm Freezing: Preserving Your Fertility

Sperm freezing, also known as sperm cryopreservation, is a simple and effective way to safeguard your fertility. This option allows men to preserve their sperm for future use, whether they are not ready to start a family yet or concerned about medical treatments that may affect fertility.

Why Consider Sperm Freezing?

Men may choose to freeze their sperm for several reasons, including:
✔ Medical Treatments: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgeries that may affect sperm quality or production.
✔ Vasectomy: Preserving sperm before undergoing a sterilization procedure.
✔ Gender Affirmation Surgery: Fertility preservation for individuals undergoing gender transition.
✔ Age & Lifestyle Factors: Declining sperm quality over time or lifestyle choices affecting fertility.

The Sperm Freezing Process

1. Fertility Assessment

Before freezing, a semen analysis is performed to assess sperm quality. Additionally, screening for infectious diseases is conducted to ensure the safety of the stored sample.

2. Sperm Collection

• The sperm sample is typically collected via masturbation at the clinic in a private, sterile environment.
• If necessary, at-home collection may be an option, provided the sample is delivered within a short timeframe.
• In cases of medical conditions or difficulties, sperm can be retrieved through surgical sperm extraction (TESE or PESA).

3. Cryopreservation Process

• The sample is mixed with a cryoprotectant solution to prevent damage during freezing.
• It is then gradually cooled before being stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C for long-term preservation.
• Sperm can be stored for many years without significant deterioration.

4. Future Use

When the individual is ready, the sperm is thawed and assessed for quality. It can then be used in:
✔ Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) – Directly placing sperm into the uterus.
✔ In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) – Fertilizing an egg in the laboratory.
✔ Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – Injecting a single sperm directly into an egg.

Success Rates & Considerations

• Not all sperm survive the freezing and thawing process, but advances in technology have significantly improved success rates.
• Fertilization rates with frozen sperm are nearly identical to those with fresh sperm.
• It is essential to discuss legal and consent considerations, including how the sperm can be used in the future.