Men have biological clocks too and therefore, also experience an age-related decline in fertility. To slow down the tickling of your biological clock, freezing sperm can be of great help.
What is Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation)?
Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) (Cryopreservation) is the most successful method of preserving a man’s fertility so he can try and have children at a later date. In Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation), men are able to freeze their sperm for use in their own future treatment or to donate to someone else’s treatment.
‘’Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) technology actually dates back to 1776 when an Italian priest recorded the effect of snow on human sperm’’.
‘’Between 1938 and 1945 numerous scientists recorded sperm could survive freezing’’.
Why do men freeze their sperms?
To preserve their fertility until they are truly ready to be a parent. A man may decide to delay fatherhood because he may be in a line of work that puts his fertility at risk. Also, duty calls, which sometimes requires that you be away from your partner for extended periods of time can be the reason for choosing Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation).
‘’Advancing age, Cancer or medical reasons, pre-vasectomy patients, Transgender patients, deteriorating sperm quality or low sperm quantity are common reasons to choose to freeze sperm”.
What age should men freeze their sperms?
Men should consider freezing their sperms before turning 35. Freezing sperm before 35 is a smart option for guys who want to hold off on fatherhood. As, with ageing, sperm quality may get affected. Just as people suffer the loss of muscle power, flexibility and endurance with age, in men, sperm also tends to lose ‘fitness’ over the life cycle.
‘’Fatherhood is just not as natural at 70 as at 20 years old, the sperm quality falls as men get older, from around the age of 40’’.
Where is sperm stored?
Sperm is stored in the sperm bank or in the fertility Clinic.
How long can the sperm be stored/frozen?
The standard storage period for sperm is normally ten years, but men in certain circumstances can store their sperm for up to fifty-five years. Most sperm can be stored for more than twenty years. Prolonged duration of Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) makes no difference to live birth rates.
Is Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) right for me?
Consider Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) -If you are at risk of injury or death, if you are a male transitioning to a female and want to preserve your fertility before you start hormone therapy, if you have difficulty producing a sperm sample on the day of fertility treatment, if you have low sperm count or poor quality of sperm, if you have a condition that may affect your fertility, freezing sperm before vasectomy –if you are about to have a vasectomy and want sperm available in case you change your mind about having more children.
How does Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) work?
First, your sperm will need to be tested for any infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis etc. This is done to ensure that affected sperm samples are stored separately to prevent contamination of other samples. You will then need to give your written, informed consent to your sperm being stored and specify how long you want it to be stored for. At the clinic, you will be asked to produce a fresh sample of sperm which will be mixed with a special fluid (a cryoprotectant) to protect the sperm from damage during freezing. Before the Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) process, the sperm sample is generally divided between a number of containers called straws. This means that not all the sperm needs to be thawed right away and can be used in various treatments. The samples are then cooled slowly and plunged into liquid nitrogen.
Who are the best candidates to freeze sperm?
Anyone who is healthy and has some sperm in their ejaculate is a good candidate to freeze sperm. The average age of couples opting for this procedure is 28-35.
How much does it cost to freeze sperm?
The cost to freeze sperm depends on how many samples you store and how long you store them. Initial analysis and the first year of storage can cost as low as $250 or as high as $1,300.
Note- If you are facing freezing sperm cost issues, talk to your fertility doctor.
What are the risks involved in Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation)?
There are no risks or side effects involved when semen samples are collected naturally (through masturbation). But if semen samples are collected through extraction, there may be minor and short-lived risks, such as discomfort, a little bleeding, fatigue.
What if I don’t use my sperm or have some leftover?
You have different options if you don’t want to use your own sperm or have some leftover. You can donate your frozen sperms to research; you can also donate them to someone else who very much wants a family.
Is Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) safe?
Yes! It is very safe. No risks to patients or children from using frozen sperm are found.
Note – IVF using frozen sperm is just as successful as IVF using fresh sperm.
With leading Fertility Centre – IVF Spring
You can stay assured with Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) process as our experienced fertility team will let you know all the important aspects of Sperm Freezing (cryopreservation) before you jump in with the procedure. As we think it’s very important to be well informed about the whole process you’re signing up for. To know more about the freezing facilities. Request an appointment at IVF Spring Fertility Center. Also, call us now- Our dedicated team will answer all your questions with a smile.