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There are a lot of good reasons to consider having your sperm frozen at a sperm bank, including future-proofing your family planning and the ability to have children of your own. In addition to providing you and your spouse the chance to have a family, it also serves as the best insurance against infertility. But, a strong desire to procreate is no assurance that you will actually become pregnant. It all depends on your fertility health and some careful planning. And sperm preservation is one technique to guarantee that you can start a family whenever you’re ready. You may be interested in sperm freezing, but you have a few questions regarding the process. This article will provide you with the information you require regarding sperm freezing.
How Does Sperm Freezing Work?
Sperm freezing is a viable option for men who want to protect their fertility but are planning to undertake medical treatment that could compromise their ability to conceive naturally. Cancer therapies like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and orchiectomy fall into this category. Having a biological child following a gender transition is another benefit of freezing sperm beforehand. Male sperm quality decreases with aging. One option for people who are not ready to start a family right away is to store away healthy sperm while they are still young and healthy. Those in the military, police enforcement, or other first responders whose jobs put them at risk of physical damage, exposure to harmful chemicals, or extended separation from their partners may find sperm freezing to be a beneficial option.
The Sperm Freezing Process
There are several stages between collecting a sperm sample and putting it “in the freezer” (actually a storage dewar filled with liquid nitrogen). Ejaculating into a container is the standard method of providing a sample, which can be done at a clinic or at home using a sperm freezing kit and sperm testing kit. In order to collect a sample from some people, sperm extraction or aspiration techniques may be necessary. Lab professionals will perform an examination on the sperm to make sure it is viable before putting it in the freezer. The size, number, concentration, motility, and shape of sperm will be evaluated. The sperm will subsequently undergo processing, such as “washing,” to eliminate the semen plasma and other potential impurities. To further protect cells from freezing damage, cryoprotectant is applied in very low concentrations. After being collected, the sperm is placed in vials, frozen at -196 degrees Celsius in liquid nitrogen, and then banked. Post-thawing analysis will be performed on a portion of the sample to determine how many sperm are still viable and swimming after being frozen.
Success Probabilities of Sperm Freezing
It has been discovered that only the sperm of some men can withstand the freezing and thawing necessary for treatment samples. Not much is known about the causes of this, actually. Donors are turned away if not enough of their sperm make it through the freezing and thawing process. Nonetheless, reproductive therapies using frozen sperm are just as successful as those using fresh sperm overall.
There must be adequate time before beginning primary disease therapy for you to undergo sperm freezing. Thus, men who have forms of leukemia or other cancers that require emergency treatment cannot benefit from this. Options should be discussed with your doctor. In particular, it’s important to learn how the treatment you’re considering will influence your ability to have children. Some men may be able to attempt for a child naturally after radiotherapy or chemotherapy has temporarily impaired their fertility. However, some men’s sperm cells will not recover, and they will have to use their stored sperm. There is also the option of using donated frozen sperm if you don’t want to go to the trouble of freezing your own. Your doctor is in the best position to advise you on your options and recommend the most appropriate next steps.
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