Male infertility treatment · Thanjavur

Sperm freezing

Sperm frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen for later use in IUI, IVF or ICSI: before medical treatment, ahead of a treatment day or after sperm retrieval.

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Open: Mon – Sat: 8:30 am – 5:00 pmSunday: by prior appointment only
Find us: Dean Complex, Maris Corner, Thanjavur

Dr. Sangeetha BalamuruganFertility Specialist & Reproductive Medicine Specialist

A gloved hand opening a laboratory storage container

About sperm freezing

Sperm freezing (sperm cryopreservation) is the freezing and storage of sperm so that they can be used in the future. Samples are mixed with a protective solution, frozen and kept in liquid nitrogen until they are needed.

At Skanda Fertility & Women's Health Centre, Thanjavur, sperm freezing can be arranged as part of fertility treatment, or to preserve fertility before treatment that may affect it.

When sperm freezing may be considered

Sperm may be frozen in situations such as:

Before cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Before surgery that may affect fertility
When the male partner may not be available on the day of treatment
Difficulty producing a sample on the day of treatment
After surgical sperm retrieval, to avoid repeating the procedure
Very low sperm counts, to collect and store sperm over time

Freezing is planned after a consultation and the necessary blood tests.

How sperm are frozen and stored

The process generally involves:

Consultation and screening blood tests
Written consent for freezing and storage
Sample collection after 2 to 5 days of abstinence
A semen analysis of the fresh sample
Freezing in labelled straws or vials
Storage in liquid nitrogen
Thawing when needed for IUI, IVF or ICSI

Not all sperm survive freezing and thawing, so the quality after thawing can be lower than before freezing.

Planning ahead

When treatment such as chemotherapy is coming up, there may be little time. Freezing can often be arranged quickly so that it does not delay the medical treatment. The team can explain how many samples may be useful and how long they can be stored.

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Questions

Questions about sperm freezing

Mon – Sat: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm · Sunday: by prior appointment only · Please contact us in advance to schedule your appointment.

Call +91 73589 75682

How long can sperm be stored?

Frozen sperm can remain usable for many years. The storage period is agreed in your consent and follows Indian regulations.

Does freezing affect sperm quality?

Some sperm do not survive freezing and thawing, and movement may be reduced afterwards. Treatment such as ICSI can help when the number of good sperm after thawing is limited.

How many samples should I store?

This depends on the quality of the sample and how you plan to use it. Your specialist may suggest more than one sample in some situations.

Do I need any tests before freezing?

Screening blood tests for infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are usually needed before samples are stored.