Introduction: Cryopreservation, also called Sperm Banking, or “freezing” of sperm cells, is a medical procedure done in fertility clinics that helps preserve the quality of a person’s sperm. This procedure can benefit those looking to increase their chances of having children in the future but are not ready to do so yet. It can also help those who have been diagnosed with cancer and may require chemotherapy treatments that could interfere with their fertility. Let’s break down why cryopreserving your sperm may be your best choice.
The Benefits of Sperm Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation of sperm has many benefits that make it a viable option for individuals looking to start a family in the future. It allows men to freeze their sperm so they can use it at a later date, even if they don’t have access to fresh semen due to medical conditions or lifestyle changes. Additionally, cryopreserving your sperm gives you more control over when and how you want to conceive. It gives you peace of mind knowing that any life events between now won’t compromise your fertility and when you decide to attempt conception.
It also gives men the ability to store their genetic material before undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy, which can cause permanent damage to sperm cells and reduce fertility levels. Lastly, because cryopreserved semen samples last longer than those stored using other methods, there is less chance for contamination or degradation over time. This means that the quality of the sample will remain high until it is used for conception.
How Does Sperm Cryopreservation Work?
The process of cryopreserving sperm begins with an initial assessment by a doctor or fertility specialist who will determine whether or not cryopreservation is suitable for you based on your medical history and lifestyle choices. Once this assessment has been completed, a sample will be taken from you which will then undergo processing in order to remove any impurities before being frozen using liquid nitrogen tanks at extremely low temperatures (-196°C). The sample will then be stored until needed, where it will be thawed and prepared for use in assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF or IUI (intrauterine insemination).
Conclusion:
Sperm cryopreservation is an increasingly popular option for men who are not ready to start a family yet but wish to have kids at some point down the road. This procedure allows them to store their genetic material safely so they can use it whenever they’re ready without worrying about any potential damage caused by lifestyle changes or medical conditions along the way. Cryopreserved semen samples last longer than those stored using other methods, meaning there is less chance for contamination or degradation over time resulting in higher quality results when attempting conception through assisted reproductive technologies like IVF or IUI. If you think cryopreserving your sperm may be right for you, contact us for a courtesy consultation today!
Bruce R Gilbert MD PhD HCLD ALD
Laboratory and Medical Director
New York Cryo
516-487-2700
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Many of our new male fertility patients are perplexed about their inability to conceive. They have been told that it is not a female factor and that their semen quality is excellent. Their sperm have perfectly shaped oval heads, normal-sized mid-pieces, and straight, well-aligned tails, and they demonstrate great motility (i.e., sperm movement) and forward progression. On visual inspection, one would assume that their sperm could fertilize an egg with ease producing a normal embryo that would develop into a beautiful baby.
With the recent report that SARS-CoV-2 is found in semen, the answer now is; We probably should be concerned. This Research Letter published in JAMA Network Open by Li et al. (1) describes their findings in 38 participants who provided a semen specimen. They found
We also don’t know whether SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted to the developing fetus. A recent case report (8) presented a second-trimester miscarriage in a suspected COBID-19 positive mother. The mother, placenta, and fetus were tested for SARS-CoV-2. The mother and placenta were positive, while the fetus was negative. The suspected cause of the miscarriage was SARS-CoV-2. It is difficult to make broad conclusions from this single case report. However, this report does raise additional concerns and challenges for pregnancies during this pandemic.
The authors reviewed studies demonstrating that the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) was a major cellular receptor that mediated the entrance of the SARS-CoV-2 into a human cell. ACE2 receptors have been implicated in other severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS). They also noted that a percentage (3% to 10%) of those infected with this virus exhibited kidney damage. They wanted to know if other cell types, that had large numbers of ACE2 receptors, were also affected by this virus. The cells they looked at were renal tubular cells, important for kidney function. They also reviewed two types of cells located in the testis, the Leydig cells, which produce testosterone, the major male hormone and the seminiferous tubule cells which are important in sperm production.
