What is Sperm Freezing ?
Sperm freezing is also known as cryopreservation or semen banking is a technique of preserving sperms by freezing and storing in liquid nitrogen at the temperature of -196oC that is used on a later date for fertilizing an egg.
Cryopreservation is the advanced process of storing tissues, cells or organs at a very minimum and low temperature to preserve their viability. These cells or tissues can be revived by thawing under proper conditions and reused. In assisted reproductive technology we often have to freeze sperms, eggs or embryos.
Why is Sperm freezing required ?
- - In case of remarriage or death of a child may want to use back up frozen sperm sample.
- - Patients with a low sperm count or sperm quality is declining.
- - Patients taking some medical treatment that may affect his fertility.
- - Patients with cancer - chemotherapy and radiotherapy are known to be toxic to the gonads lead to deterioration in not just sperm counts but sperm quality as well.
- - Patients with other medical conditions diabetes (may cause erectile difficulty) etc.
- - Certain types of pelvic or testicular surgery (prevents sperm to enter into the urethra).
- - When sperm required for donation purpose -donated sperms by law has to be frozen and quarantined till donor is tested to confirm to be free of any infections like HIV, hepatitis B or C etc.
- - In some cases, patient has difficulty producing a sample on the day of fertility treatment or is not present on day of egg retrieval.
- - Undergoing Vasectomy (This is a surgical procedure for permanent contraception in males in which small tubes of scrotum that carry sperm are cut or blocked off, so sperm can't enter into the urethra and prevents pregnancy).
- - Life threatening occupations (Personals of Armed Forces).
- - Planning a late pregnancy.
High Advantages of Cryopreservation
- - Reduces risk of morphological changes.
- - Reduced risk of cross-contamination.
- - Create a safety of microbial contamination.
