Semen Freezing

Semen Freezing - The Complete Details For Increased Chances Of Family Planning

Sperm or Semen freezing is common today not only for donation but also for later family planning. Many people prefer semen freezing at an early age for healthy family planning later. Family planning is an integral part of life that connects emotions, but unfortunately, not everyone gets the chance. For individual reasons, many people plan to have children later. However, there's a biological clock that leads to lowered chances of having children as time goes by. By opting for scientific treatments and techniques, you can have hope.

Freezing of semen is one of those techniques that can optimize family planning. Let's understand what it is and why you need semen freezing:

What Is Semen Freezing?

Freezing of semen is also known as semen banking or semen cryopreservation, which is a scientific technique for freezing sperm for future use. Sperm cells are reproductive cells in AAMB(Assigned Male At Birth). There are millions of sperm in your semen when you ejaculate during orgasm. The technique freezes sperm to preserve its quality, which assists in fertilization later. It's a successful method of maintaining men's fertility so they can plan children at a later stage. With age, the quality of sperm reduces, resulting in low chances of pregnancy. So, by freezing the sperm, you can ensure better chances of fertilization.

Why Is Semen Freezing Done?

There are many circumstances where either you or doctors suggest for semen freezing:

  • Age: As you grow older, the quality of sperm reduces. To have better chances of conceiving or having children later, freezing sperm can help. Sperm concentration, morphology, and mobility decline with age. When you have high-quality sperm, freezing at that age can help in better chances. In addition, sperm freezing early can help in a high success rate for IVF treatment. It also doesn't have success with the growing age of female partners. Many women's reproductive issues, like fibroids, PCOS, hernia, etc., affect pregnancy.
  • Hazardous Jobs: People with hazardous jobs are exposed to chemicals that can impact sperm quality and low chances of family planning. So, by freezing sperm early, you can protect your chances. It assists you in taking other treatments like IVF and increases your success rate.
  • People With Cancer: People who are diagnosed with prostate cancer or testicular cancer are suggested to freeze sperm by doctors. Cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, can lead to infertility or low-quality sperm. So, doctors suggest sperm banking as soon as diagnosis is done. In the case of some health treatments like Testicular cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leukemia, etc., there is a risk of male infertility. So, doctors suggest semen banking.
  • Low sperm count: If a male has a low sperm count, semen freezing is suggested. Freezing of semen can be used for procedures like IVF and ICSI. If you have a low sperm count before your 40s, you can opt for sperm freezing.
  • Frequent traveling: Some people travel a lot for work or personal reasons. Because of this, natural pregnancy may not be possible. If your partner ovulates while one of you is traveling, they can use sperm for pregnancy.
  • As a Backup Sample for ICSI and IVF: Sometimes, during IVF, the male partner may not be prepared to give a sample or might not be available. So, fertility clinics will ask for sample days prior to IVF as a backup.

When To Opt For Semen Freezing?

To Freeze semen, the best time is at an early age if you already know you want children later in life. In addition, in case of serious illness, you need to freeze semen to avoid any risk. You can consult doctors for the freezing point of semen and more.

What Is The Procedure For Semen Freezing?

The semen freezing is a process of steps that you need to know. It involves steps of collecting, freezing, and storing semen for as long as you want. Here's how it follows:

  • Assessment: Firstly, tests for infectious diseases, including HIV and hepatitis, are conducted. It is basically to ensure that other sperm samples stored do not get affected by the disease. In addition, semen analysis is done for additional details. The process of semen analysis and freezing can be done on the same day.
  • Consent: You have to provide your consent in written form to store your sperm. In addition, you have to specify the amount of time sperm will be stored.
  • Sample: At the clinic, you will be asked to produce a fresh sample for sperm retrieval, which is mixed with a fluid for damage protection during freezing. The sperm is divided into different containers. Among these, not all samples are thawed; some samples are cooled down slowly and added to liquid nitrogen. The magnetic activated cell sorting technique is also used to separate sperm cells.
  • Freezing and Storage: The sample is then frozen at the freezing point of semen,e., -196°C, and stored in containers. It will be kept frozen for as long as you have mentioned.

What Happens After Semen Freezing?

After freezing, samples are labeled with a unique number- an internal control number for identification. Your photo ID and other details are kept in a permanent file after the procedure. You can come back whenever you are ready for IVF, timed intercourse, ICSI, and PICSI for family planning.

Semen Freezing For IVF Treatment

IVF treatment is successful with sperm freezing as much as it's successful with fresh sperm. Those who wish to freeze semen can opt for IVF later to achieve pregnancy. These treatments with high-quality semen are successful. If you are planning for semen freezing, you have other successful treatment options available for family planning. Moreover, if male partners' sperm quality is low or you're planning to be a single parent, you can opt for a sperm donor. 

Bloom IVF- Get Top Sperm Banking Services

Bloom IVF is one of the finest fertility clinics for infertility and reproductive organ issues. You can consult our specialists for your semen freezing, reproductive issues, IVF treatment, and more. So, whether you need infertility treatment, IVF treatment, or a family planning solution, Bloom IVF is the best option. The Bloom IVF also helps in laser assisted hatching, ovarian rejuvenation, blastocyst culture, luteal phase, embryoscope, and egg oocyte freezing. You can consult for all your infertility or reproductive issues.

Step-by-Step Procedure of Semen Freezing

1
Patient is tested for viral markers.
2
Consent will be taken
3
Fresh sample by masturbation is collected
4
The sample is mixed with cryoprotectant to protect the sperms from damage during freezing.
5
The samples are divided into straws for storage, cooled down and plunged in liquid nitrogen for storage.

Common Questions

If you could not find an answer to your query, please contact us.

Yes! It's a safe option. However, there is no specific information; researchers are underway to know if freezing semen has any issues among children or risk to patients.
There is a chance of sperm damage when the freezing and thawing process is underway. However, it depends on circumstances, as 95% of sperm survive in the process.
The optimal age for men to opt for sperm freezing is below 40. At that time, the sperm quality would be good, so freezing will have better results later.
IVF is successful with both fresh and frozen sperm. However, some studies suggest that fresh samples are better. IVF itself has a success rate with growing age. So, it depends on various factors.
At least 15 million sperm per milliliter is required for better chances of fertilization with the embryo.
No! You cannot freeze sperm at home; it needs equipment, and some other important factors have to be considered. So, it can be conducted only in a laboratory.