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Sperm freezing, or sperm cryopreservation, is a fantastic way for men to preserve their fertility for future family planning. While male fertility tends to decline more slowly than female fertility, sperm freezing offers peace of mind if you’re looking to delay parenthood.
What is Sperm Freezing?
So, what exactly is sperm freezing? It’s the technique of collecting, cooling, and safely storing sperm. Those frozen samples can later be used in treatments like IUI and IVF, allowing you the flexibility to start a family when you’re ready.
How Does It Work?
The process is pretty straightforward! First, we need a few fresh sperm samples for testing and freezing. We initiate with a semen analysis to check if your sperm is viable for freezing. Additionally, we screen for any infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis C. Don’t worry—these results won’t prevent you from freezing your sperm; they just ensure that any samples needing special attention are stored separately to avoid contamination.
After testing, you’ll provide a fresh sperm sample, usually collected at one of our TFP Fertility clinics. If that makes you anxious, you can also produce your sample at home, just make sure to get it back to us within an hour. If necessary, we can even retrieve sperm surgically.
Once we have your sample, we mix it with a cryoprotectant to prevent damage during freezing. The sample is then divided into individual containers so you can use it for multiple treatments. We use a rapid cooling method called vitrification and store your samples in liquid nitrogen.
Who Might Benefit from Sperm Freezing?
- Those Not Ready for Parenthood: If you’re not emotionally or financially prepared to start a family, freezing sperm can give you that option later.
- Transgender and Non-Binary Individuals: If you’re about to begin hormone therapy or go through gender-affirming surgery, freezing sperm can be vital for future fertility.
- Men Considering Vasectomy: Planning a vasectomy? Freezing sperm first preserves your chances of having children later.
- Men with Fertility Concerns: Conditions affecting sperm production or ejaculation can lead to fertility challenges.
- Military Personnel: If your job involves risks that could impact fertility, consider preserving it through sperm freezing.
Cost Breakdown
Here’s a quick look at the costs involved in sperm freezing. Remember, prices may vary by region.
- Fertility Assessment: £205 (includes semen analysis)
- Sperm Freezing: £695 (covers sperm screening and freezing)
- Storage: £370 annually
Our team is here to help with clear pricing and any questions about sperm freezing.
Success Rates
Approximately 50% of sperm survives the freeze-thaw process. We freeze samples in individual straws so that not all of it needs to be thawed at once. Using frozen sperm is just as effective as using fresh sperm, particularly when we use techniques like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to enhance fertilization chances.
If you’re curious about sperm freezing or want to learn more, check out this blog post on sperm freezing. Also, for those interested in home insemination, this resource may be helpful! And don’t forget to visit American Pregnancy for excellent insights on pregnancy and donor insemination.
In summary, sperm freezing is a valuable option for men looking to preserve their fertility for future family planning. Whether you’re delaying parenthood for personal reasons or facing health challenges, the process is straightforward and effective.