Sperm freezing, also known as semen freezing, is one of the key aspects of infertility treatment for men. This is relatively simple, but it can preserve men’s fertility for a long duration so that they can try to have children at a later date. Furthermore, freezing sperm can also be used in the treatment of another couple who are trying to conceive a child. Because of all of these reasons, it has become a rather popular method. However, before you decide to freeze your sperm, you should know a few aspects. Some of these aspects include why and when to consider freezing your sperm.
In this blog, we discuss why and when to consider freezing your sperm. But before we go into the why and when let’s first talk about what sperm freezing is.
Freezing sperm or sperm cryopreservation is a process that allows you to preserve your fertility by freezing sperm for future use. The process of sperm freezing involves collecting the sperm, analyzing it, and storing it at a very low temperature until further use. This, in turn, ensures the viability of sperm for many years. While the specific steps may vary, the general steps involved include the following:
In this step, the experts take a thorough review of your medical history to identify any potential issues that may affect sperm quality. This step also involves discussing reasons for sperm freezing, the process, and potential risks.
After the initial consultation, the experts collect the sperm. The most common way to collect sperm is through masturbation. However, in some cases, they may also be collected using a special condom during intercourse or through a minor surgical procedure if the ejection is not possible.
In this step, the collected sperm is analyzed for count, motility, morphology, and overall health. This analysis helps determine the quality and quantity of sperm before freezing. In this process, the sperm is also screened for potential infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.
Once the sperm are analyzed, they are mixed with cryoprotectant, which is a substance that helps protect the sperm during the freezing process. They are then gradually cooled to sub-zero temperature using a controlled rate freezer to prevent ice crystals from forming. Once the sperm reaches the desired temperature, they are then stored in liquid nitrogen at around -196 °C (-321°F).
The frozen sperm can then be stored for many years in optimal conditions. The storage facilities regularly monitor and maintain the liquid nitrogen tanks to ensure that the sperm remains frozen and viable.
This is the general process of sperm freezing. Once the sperm is frozen, they can then be thawed and used as per the needs of the clients or as per the agreements.
Also Read: Low Sperm Count: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Now that you have a basic idea about what sperm freezing and its process is, let's talk about why you should consider freezing sperm. While the specific reasons why you might want to consider freezing sperm may vary, some of the key reasons and circumstances to consider before sperm freezing may include the following:
One of the key categories of reasons why you might want to consider freezing sperm is medical. This includes cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, which can severely damage sperm production. Additionally, if you are going through certain surgeries that involve the reproductive organs and specific medical conditions such as testicular torsion or autoimmune diseases, you might want to freeze your sperm before you proceed with the treatments.
Another key reason for freezing sperm is age and infertility. As you may already know, the more your age progresses, the lower your fertility becomes. By freezing sperm at a younger age, you can preserve healthier sperm for future use. This fertility preservation ensures better outcomes when you are ready to conceive. Furthermore, this proactive approach can remove the risks associated with age-related genetic mutations. Additionally, it can also protect against unexpected health issues that could impact fertility later in life.
Along with preparing for age and infertility, you may also want to freeze your sperm if you are engaged in an occupation that deals with harmful chemicals or high physical risks. Doing so ensures that you can still become a parent even if your reproductive capability decreases due to prolonged exposure. Additionally, sperm freezing also covers the situation when you get into an accident that damages your reproductive capability. Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as frequent travel or long-term absences from partners can also make time conception challenging. By storing your eggs, you can choose when to conceive easily.
From the reasons we told so far, it should be rather easy to guess that you can time conception with sperm freezing. This further helps you with family planning and provides you with flexibility. It ensures that you and your partner can conceive at the most suitable time. Therefore, if you are someone who puts family planning high, then choosing sperm freezing is one of the best options.
Another key aspect you should consider is genetic disorders. If you have a genetic disorder that can reduce your reproductive capability over time, then freezing sperm is one of the best options for you. This process preserves the best sperm with low risks of genetic disorders for future use. Additionally, it also offers a good choice if you wish to preserve your genetic legacy before going through a procedure that might result in infertility.
Besides the physical factor, psychological factors also play a huge part in choosing the sperm freezing service. By choosing this service, you can rest assured knowing that male fertility is preserved regardless of the disease or your age. This can further enhance your control over the sense of future family planning decisions. All of these lead to better overall psychological and emotional relief.
These are just some of the key reasons and circumstances to consider freezing sperm. Besides the ones we mentioned here, there can be many other reasons, depending on your circumstances. Regardless, we hope this provided you with the general gist of the key reasons.
Sperm freezing is the process where the sperm is extracted and then frozen to make it last longer for future fertilization. The specific steps involved in this process depend on your circumstances. However, in general, the process entails counseling, freezing, and storing the sperm for future use. After knowing the process, it is important to know when and why to use this process. Freezing sperm is recommended under many circumstances, which include undergoing medical treatments that may decrease your fertility, progressing age, occupational and lifestyle hazards, family planning, and more.
In this blog, we discussed the general procedure of sperm freezing and some of the key reasons why and when you might want to consider freezing your sperm. We hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into various aspects of infertility treatments, do check out some of our other blogs.
Moreover, if you want the best sperm-freezing service in Nepal, you can request an appointment at Hardik IVF and Fertility Center. Thank you for reading till the end.
Some of the key reasons and circumstances when you might want to consider freezing sperm might include:
Frozen sperm can be stored at sperm banks for many years under optimal conditions. Storage facilities regularly monitor and maintain liquid nitrogen tanks to ensure the sperm remains frozen and viable for extended periods.
People might consider freezing their sperm for various reasons, including medical treatments that could affect fertility, age-related fertility decline, occupational hazards, family planning, and genetic considerations. It provides a way to preserve fertility and have children in the future.
Yes, frozen sperm can be thawed and used for various fertility treatments. It can be used for the individual who froze it or, in some cases, for other couples trying to conceive, depending on agreements and regulations.
Yes, individuals working with harmful chemicals or in high-risk physical occupations might consider sperm freezing. It ensures the possibility of becoming a parent even if reproductive capability decreases due to prolonged exposure to hazardous conditions.
Cryoprotectants are substances mixed with sperm before freezing to protect them during the process. They help prevent the formation of ice crystals, which could damage the sperm cells during freezing and thawing.
Men who travel frequently or experience long-term absences from their partners might consider sperm freezing. It provides a solution for timed conception challenges caused by irregular schedules or distance.
While sperm freezing significantly increases the chances of future fertility, it's not a guarantee. Success rates depend on various factors, including the quality of the sperm before freezing and the specific fertility treatment used.