In short Preserving fertility through sperm freezing allows many men to become fathers in the future. Adverse environmental factors, diseases, oncological therapies, as well as the aging process of the body can contribute to a weakening of sperm quality or even its disappearance.
Sperm cryopreservation, or its freezing, is a procedure that enables the storage of frozen sperm for a long time. Preserving sperm cells using liquid nitrogen is possible thanks to the use of cryoprotectants, which are substances that protect cells during this process. Freezing gametes for future use is an increasingly common practice, especially among men undergoing treatment that could harm their fertility.
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Groups with indications for sperm freezing include, among others:
Preserving sperm through freezing is also used in assisted reproductive procedures – in vitro fertilization (IVF) and insemination.
Before collecting sperm for cryopreservation, it is necessary to analyze the ejaculate sample beforehand. It is best to perform it at the same clinic where it will be frozen, as well as at the same clinic where the man is potentially preparing with his partner for an IVF or insemination procedure.
Additionally, up-to-date tests will be required:
Before donating semen, heavy physical exertion and stimulants should be avoided, as these factors can affect sperm quantity and quality. For the same reason, sexual abstinence should be maintained between 2 and 7 days prior to the procedure.
The Bocian fertility clinic has a special, intimate room intended for men donating semen, the so-called men's room. The obtained material goes directly to the laboratory, where it undergoes preparation for the freezing process. In special cases, if sperm cannot be obtained from the ejaculate, semen is collected directly from the testes via a biopsy.
One method of freezing sperm cells, egg cells, and embryos is vitrification. It allows for the rapid cooling of collected gametes at a rate of 15,000–30,000°C/min using a high concentration of protective cryoprotectants. Another way to freeze semen is the slow freezing method. If the semen is deemed eligible for freezing, a laboratory diagnostician adds a cryoprotectant to it, which will protect the sperm cells from damage. The semen prepared in this way is set aside for 10 minutes. Then, the material can be divided into appropriately labeled portions kept in straws. One portion is sufficient to perform an IVF procedure or insemination. The straws are cooled in nitrogen vapor for 15 minutes; after this time, they are placed in liquid nitrogen. Semen is stored at a temperature of -196°C.
Sperm freezing in many cases secures a man's fertility and gives him a chance to have offspring in the future. Thanks to modern cooling techniques and cryoprotectants, sperm cells tolerate cryopreservation quite well, although this process slightly weakens their viability. The quality of preserved sperm also depends on the initial material subjected to freezing.
At every Bocian Clinic – in Białystok, Warsaw, Katowice, Poznań, Szczecin, Łódź, Rzeszów, Kielce, Lublin, and Gdańsk – semen can be frozen and stored. The price of sperm freezing is PLN 400. Additionally, the cost of storing the semen must be kept in mind, which is billed for each year of securing the straws with sperm. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our medical services price list.
