FREEZING AND STORAGE OF SPERM

WHAT DOES THIS INVOLVE?

The freezing of sperm has been performed since the early 1950’s. A semen sample, is mixed with a cryoprotectant (similar to antifreeze in a car) and drawn into thin plastic straws, each of about ½ cc in volume. Normally between 5 and 20 straws may be prepared from each single ejaculate. The straws are coloured and a coloured plug is used to seal the end. These colour combinations are unique for each man. The man’s file number and sample number is also recorded on each straw. These straws are then placed into a programmable freezing machine and liquid is pumped into it at a controlled rate. This allows the sperm straws to be frozen in a scientifically controlled manner.

At the completion of the freezing programme, the straws of semen are stored in liquid nitrogen at -196 C in a state of suspended animation. Sperm can stay in this situation for many years without any detrimental effect.

WHO WOULD STORE SPERM?

The freezing and storage of sperm is undertaken for many reasons:

Pre-vasectomy / Pre-chemotherapy

Men may store sperm before undergoing vasectomy (chemotherapy) as an insurance policy. Vasectomies (chemotherapy) should be considered as irreversible because repair and reconnection of the vas some time after vasectomies (chemotherapy) usually is accompanied by a significant reduction in normal fertilizing capacity of sperm.

In some countries, the Clinic cannot accept a consent relating to the usage of his semen after the event of his death and is not permitted to carry out a posthumous (after death) procedure using his gametes (sperm).

Sperm Donation

Sperm donation may be anonymous or may be provided to know recipients. The storage of sperm allows artificial insemination to be performed without the complication of managing the sperm collection procedure. Sperm donors are also health tested and sperm sample remain in quarantine for six (6) months awaiting final health tests on donors before release for use. This eliminates the risk of transfer of the known viral diseases.

Management of Assisted Reproductive Treatment

Some men who are not going to be readily available when their partners are undergoing treatment for assisted conception or men who find semen collection on demand a difficult exercise, could consider the storage of sperm a convenient option.

MANAGEMENT OF FREEZE / STORAGE OF SPERM

All men who wish to store sperm need to undergo blood tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

Consent forms to store semen must be signed by men before storage, and this consent will last for a defined number of years.

To collect their sperm sample men need to book with the laboratory. Men need to normally abstain from sexual relations for 3 days prior to collection.

If there is any concern from the laboratory about the quality of the sperm, men will be informed of this.

USE OF SPERM

The sperm will be thawed and used only with specific written consent of the man who owns the stored semen. Men who choose to donate their sperm have the right to vary or withdraw their consent at any time.