Sperm Freezing
Keep your options open with sperm freezing
I provide expert advice on fertility preservation with sperm freezing in Sydney CBD, Lindfield, and Crows Nest.
Sperm freezing, also known as sperm cryopreservation, may be a medical necessity for several reasons, including for assisted reproductive technologies.
Benefits of Sperm Freezing
Prior to medical treatment
Some medical interventions, including chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation for cancer, and testosterone treatments are known to affect your fertility and may not be reversible. Vasectomy will make you infertile. Freezing your sperm prior to starting treatment can provide some reassurance that you still have the option for biological children.
To support IVF or IUI treatments
Both in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) require you to provide a sperm sample as part of the procedure. If you are unable to produce a fresh sample on the day of treatment for any reason, whether work or personal, you may choose to freeze your sperm ahead of time to be used when required.
Prior to gender-affirming treatment
If you are planning on undergoing gender-affirming therapy but still wish to have the option of having biological children in the future, you may want to freeze your sperm before you begin your therapy, especially if you will be having surgery. The timing is less crucial with medical therapy, but it is still best to discuss with a fertility specialist so that you are aware of all your options beforehand.
To become a sperm donor
Giving another couple or single mother by choice the chance to build their family with your donated sperm can be highly rewarding. The sperm donation process involves producing a semen sample, which is then processed and stored in a sperm bank.
How the sperm freezing process works
After your initial consultation, you will be asked to produce a sperm sample. This is facilitated at a Genea clinic, where you will be provided a private suite to produce the sample. Once the sperm sample has been transferred to the laboratories at Genea, it is analysed for quality and quantity before being combined with a specialised cryopreservation solution and stored in liquid nitrogen until you’re ready to use it.
Is sperm freezing for you? Make an informed decision.
If sperm cryopreservation sounds like it might be a good option for you, contact my clinic today to book your consultation. As several factors affect the likelihood of a successful pregnancy resulting from frozen sperm, sperm cryopreservation should not be considered a guarantee for having children.
FAQs
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If sperm freezing is a medical necessity, you may be eligible for a discount and Medicare rebate. We will have a better idea of costs after your consultation with the results of any tests. You can also have a look at Genea’s current treatment costs here.
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For where we can’t obtain your sperm through ejaculation, I can perform a procedure to retrieve a sperm sample directly from your testicles. This is known as testicular sperm aspiration or testicular sperm extraction.
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Genea’s cryobank storage facilities are state-of-the-art. This provides a stable environment to store your frozen sperm, meaning they can be kept for as long as necessary.
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This depends on the amount and quality of your sperm, how many future children you’re planning to have, and whether your preference is for IVF or IUI conception.. We will discuss your unique situation during a consultation, where I can provide an estimation of how many rounds of freezing we expect.
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The pregnancy and live birth success rates using frozen sperm are generally excellent, but freezing your sperm is not a guarantee. The likelihood of a healthy baby depends on the quality of your sperm, your reason for considering sperm freezing, and other health and fertility factors (for both yourself and your partner).