Sperm freezing is a technique used to preserve a man’s fertility if he wishes to have children in the future. This freezing process is known as cryopreservation. Sperm freezing or ‘banking’ is also used to store sperm so that it can be used in someone else’s fertility treatment (sperm donation).
Sperm can be frozen and stored indefinitely. However, the statutory storage period for which sperm can be frozen is up to 10 years. Most sperm banks and fertility clinics allow you to store your sperm for an annual fee, giving you the freedom to have a fertility treatment in the future. Some of the treatment options using frozen sperm are Artificial Insemination, In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
There are a number of reasons why men might choose to freeze their sperm. For example you may want to consider freezing your sperm if:
- You are going to have a vasectomy and want to keep a sample of your sperm in case you change your mind about future children
- You have been diagnosed with a low sperm count or your sperm quality is declining
- You have difficulty producing a sample on the day of your chosen fertility treatment
- Your sperm is going to be used for donation
- You have a medical condition that may result in infertility later in life
- You are facing medical treatment that may affect your fertility. For example, Cancer treatment causes deterioration in sperm quality, and can also result in sterility.
- You are considering gender reassignment. A male transitioning to a female may wish to preserve their fertility before starting hormone therapy or reconstructive surgery.
Whatever your reason for considering sperm freezing, our expert team here at Concept Fertility can help to answer your questions and provide all the support you need.
