A Guide to Sperm Freezing (Cryopreservation)

Sperm freezing is a straightforward and highly effective way to preserve your fertility, giving you peace of mind and securing your options for having a biological child in the future. It’s a well-established procedure that acts as a personal fertility insurance policy.

At Bridge Clinic, we provide a discreet and supportive environment for men considering preserving their fertility for medical, professional, or personal reasons. 🏦

What is Sperm Freezing?

Sperm freezing, also known as sperm cryopreservation, is the process of collecting, analysing, freezing, and storing sperm cells. When you are ready to start a family, the sperm can be thawed and used in fertility treatments like IUI or IVF with ICSI. The process effectively pauses time, preserving the quality of the sperm at the age it was frozen.

Who Should Consider Sperm Freezing?

Taking proactive steps to preserve your fertility is a powerful choice. You might consider sperm freezing if you are:

• Facing Medical Treatment: This is one of the most important reasons. Freezing sperm beforehand provides a safeguard if you are about to undergo:

  • Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

  • Testicular, prostate, or gender-affirming surgery.

• Diagnosed with a condition affecting fertility: Men with a declining sperm count or quality, or those with a spinal cord injury, can preserve their fertility.

• Delaying Fatherhood: If you wish to have children later in life for personal or professional reasons, freezing your sperm preserves the option to use it when the time is right.

• In a High-Risk Occupation: Military personnel or those with jobs involving exposure to chemicals or radiation may choose to freeze sperm as a precaution.

• Undergoing Fertility Treatment: It can be used as a backup for an IVF or IUI cycle, ensuring a sample is available if you are unable to produce one on the day, perhaps due to travel, work, or performance anxiety.

The Sperm Freezing Process: A Simple and Quick Procedure

The process is designed to be simple, private, and efficient.

Step 1: Consultation and Screening

Your first step is an appointment to discuss the process, sign the necessary consent forms, and complete a health questionnaire. As required by UK law, you will also need to have blood tests to screen for infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B & C.

Step 2: Producing Your Sample

You will be shown to a private room at our clinic to produce a semen sample. Providing the sample on-site is important as it allows our laboratory team to process it immediately, ensuring the best possible quality.

Step 3: Lab Analysis and Preparation

As soon as the sample is received, our andrology team will:

1. Analyse it for sperm count (quantity), motility (movement), and morphology (shape).

2. Prepare it for freezing by mixing it with a special protective liquid called a cryoprotectant. This solution protects the sperm cells from damage during the freezing and thawing process.

Step 4: Freezing and Storage

The prepared sample is divided into several small vials (known as straws), which are carefully labelled. These are then gradually cooled and transferred to a secure liquid nitrogen tank, where they are stored at -196°C.