Sperm Freezing
Sperm Freezing — Preserving Fertility for Men: Understanding the Male Biological Clock
While women are born with a finite number of eggs, men continuously produce new sperm throughout their lives. However, men also have a biological clock, similar to women.
Studies indicate that men aged 45 and older are more likely to develop new genetic mutations and abnormalities in their sperm, which can significantly increase the risk of genetic disorders and health issues in their offspring.
Sperm freezing enables men to preserve their sperm for future use without any changes to its quality. This may be required for fertility treatments, health-related concerns, or personal reasons.
What is the sperm freezing about?
Sperm freezing involves storing sperm at extremely low temperatures. First, the quality of the semen is evaluated, and then a protective substance called cryoprotectant is added to safeguard the sperm cells from damage during the cooling process. The temperature is gradually lowered, and once complete, the sperm is preserved in liquid nitrogen tanks at -196ºC.
How long can sperm remain frozen?
Sperm freezing is a widely used procedure in assisted reproduction treatments. It is also recommended for men undergoing medical or surgical procedures that could affect sperm production.
With advancements in cryopreservation techniques, sperm can be kept frozen for as long as necessary, without any changes to the sample, allowing for indefinite preservation.
Who Should Consider Freezing Sperm and Why?
Freezing sperm offers the significant advantage of preserving a man’s fertility for future use, providing an opportunity for infertile couples, individuals, or lesbian couples to conceive.
Common reasons for choosing to freeze sperm include:
-
Advancing age
-
Declining sperm quality or low sperm count
-
Cancer or other serious medical conditions
-
Pre-vasectomy patients
-
Transgender individuals
-
Career or lifestyle factors, such as those with high-risk jobs or those who frequently spend extended periods away from their partner
In an assisted reproduction treatment, sperm freezing may be necessary if the male partner is unable to be present on the day of egg retrieval, lives far away and needs to store the sample for later use, or is facing psychological pressure related to providing a sample at a specific time during fertility procedures.