Semen Cryopreservation

Sperms are the male units of reproduction. Therefore, whenever a couple desires to get pregnant, sperm must be involved in the process. However, patients often face challenges in giving birth due to disorders caused by poor sperm health. Similarly, if a woman suffers from infertility issues, natural conception becomes difficult.

This is why doctors prescribe alternative techniques such as IVF, which can successfully complete the fertilization process, bypassing various infertility factors. In every IVF/IUI cycle, doctors must use sperms in their original form, creating the need for efficient sperm storage until their use. Technologies like cryopreservation allow doctors to protect the original quality of sperms by keeping them frozen at extremely low temperatures.

Semen Cryopreservation is the traditional method of storing healthy sperms in an extremely cold environment for future use in IVF/IUI treatment. This process ensures the safe preservation of sperm cells without causing significant harm to their genetic material. Sperms preserved through cryopreservation retain their original morphology and motility, making them suitable for future use.

Semen Cryopreservation is done to store healthy sperms for future use. Depending on the quality of spermatozoa, the desired volume is decided for each patient, with 1.5 to 5 mL often considered sufficient. Sperms are generally collected naturally, but surgical extraction may be required in some cases.

Once collected, the semen sample undergoes analysis to test its fertility. After confirming sperm health, the sample is washed to separate the healthiest sperms. At AFIC, we use methods like the Swim Up technique for motile sperms and Density Gradient Washing for concentration-based separation. Washing removes semen plasma, eliminates bacteria and viruses, and increases sperm motility.

After processing, cryoprotectants like glycerol are added to protect the sperms from cellular damage during freezing. The sperms are then stored in nitrogen refrigerators at temperatures as low as -196°C.

At AFIC, cryopreservation is used for both temporary and long-term storage of semen. It is essential during IVF cycles when fertilization cannot be accomplished immediately after sperm collection. Cryopreservation is also used in surgical sperm extraction procedures and our Sperm Donation Program, where donated semen is stored in our Sperm Bank for future use.