If you dream of having children one day but are facing cancer treatment or other situations that can interfere with your fertility, cryopreservation of sperm may be an option. Conceive Fertility Center offers on-site consultations and cryopreservation of sperm services to give you the peace of mind you and your partner can achieve a future pregnancy. Find out more about the benefits of cryopreservation today by scheduling an appointment online or by phone at Conceive Fertility Center.
Cryopreservation of Sperm Q & A
What is cryopreservation of sperm?
Cryopreservation of sperm is a process where sperm are safely frozen to stop biological activity and preserve sperm for future use in procedures like in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination.
You may consider cryopreservation of sperm when you wish to conceive a child at a later time but have concerns about sperm function as you get older. Other reasons for considering cryopreservation of sperm include:
- Declining sperm count
- Deteriorating sperm quality
- Cancer and other underlying conditions
You may also wish to preserve sperm if you’re planning a vasectomy or because of certain lifestyle choices, like your career.
What happens during the cryopreservation process?
The freezing process for sperm is unique for each sperm sample. Based on the volume of semen and the concentration of sperm, Conceive Fertility Center designs a cryopreservation plan to protect sperm for future use.
In general, a specialist uses a special solution to keep sperm from being damaged during the freezing process. They place each sample in a separate vial that is properly marked with your identification before the vials are slowly cooled. When the vials reach the correct temperature, they are then stored in liquid nitrogen tanks. Sperm preserved through specialized freezing technology when properly stored can last a lifetime.
Prior to using the sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), Conceive Fertility Center conducts a test thaw to evaluate the movement and function of the sperm.
How many sperm samples do I need to preserve?
There are several factors that influence how many vials of sperm you need to preserve for future pregnancies. These factors include:
- Quality of semen
- Family planning expectations
- Anticipated procedure (IVF or IUI)
Conceive Fertility Center discusses the specifics of your situation during a consultation. In general, you should consider preserving enough sperm for several IVF or IUI procedures based on the health and quality of your sperm.
To learn more about your options for cryopreservation of sperm, schedule a consultation with the fertility experts at Conceive Fertility Center today using the online booking feature or by calling the office.