Sperm freezing, or cryopreservation, is the process of preserving sperm cells for later use. And it’s a scientifically recognized method that has been used clinically successfully for many years.
The ability to maintain and store sperm that is heard quite often nowadays is not new. First introduced in the 1950s, it is intended to preserve sperm cells for future use while they are still fertile. Thus, in cases where the issue of fertility may be raised by certain diseases, health problems, etc., be immediately available. Sperm maintenance time is theoretically unlimited. Less susceptible to alterations than other cell types due to its low water content, it is worth noting that even if it is “theoretically” cellularly damaged during freezing and thawing, no known has been recorded to date.
Why should I freeze my sperm?
Ensuring fertility at an older age, at the high levels that characterize the sperm of a younger man, but also the ability to have a child with the same ease as a young age, is a very good reason to provide freezing of sperm of. Especially if the decision to have a child is not provided for immediately or there is a specific cause that will affect his fertility. In more detail, sperm cryopreservation is indicated in men who:
They are being treated for cancer or undergoing prostate or testicular surgery, procedures that may impair sperm quality or production.
plan to have a vasectomy.
engage in high-risk occupations, with exposure to chemicals, radiation or excessive heat, which can cause infertility.
suffer from ejaculatory dysfunction.
show a progressive decline in sperm parameters.
they want sterilization by ligation of the seminal vesicle.
The process
Any man who wants to donate sperm, either for cryopreservation or for any method of assisted reproduction, should have a blood test for:
Hepatitis B (HBsAG)
Hepatitis C (HCV)
AIDS (HIV I-II)
Syphilis (RPR)
The sperm to be frozen can come either from ejaculation or from extraction through surgery (epididymis, & sperm samples) from the testicles, when the first case is not possible.
In the first case, the collection can be done either at home or at the Medimall IVF Clinic, in a private room. If the sperm is transported from the house, then it should be done with specific conditions and with instructions that will be given in every detail by our clinic, so that it can be collected and transported in a way that will not affect the quality and therefore fertility.
Another important factor for the maximum reproductive capacity of the sperm is the abstinence from sexual intercourse and ejaculation, for 2-5 days before the collection of the sample. Otherwise, the measurement may be low. And of course, the last ejaculation should not be long ago, a fact that is responsible for the immobility of a large percentage of sperm! Depending on its volume and the time elapsed since the last ejaculation, the sperm from a single ejaculation may contain 40 to 600 million sperm. The sperm to be frozen may come from an ejaculation (a collection may give 1 to 6 sperm vials), but it is recommended that if this is not fertile enough or in sufficient quantity, the procedure be repeated to give extra. The sperm samples are collected in a sterile container, then biologists analyze them to check the volume, viscosity and pH levels. Sperm is also evaluated microscopically to determine motility, sperm count, morphology and other important factors.
How cryopreservation is performed
To protect the sperm from freezing and ice crystallization, a low molecular weight cryoprotectant and highly permeable chemicals are added. At Medimall IVF Clinic we use the rapid freezing technique, which requires direct contact between the sterile tubes that hold the samples in nitrogen vapor for eight to 10 minutes, followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees Celsius.
