Semen Freezing (Sperm banking)
Sperm banking collects, freezes and stores your sperm cells. Many people bank their sperm to increase their chances of having biological children in the future. Sperm banking is safe and helps you maintain your fertility for years.
What is sperm banking?
Sperm banking is a process that collects, freezes and stores your sperm cells in a special healthcare facility (sperm bank).
Sperm cells are reproductive cells in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Your testes (testicles) produce sperm. When you ejaculate during orgasm, you release approximately 300 million sperm cells in your semen. Semen is the whitish-gray fluid that releases from your penis when you orgasm.
Why should I bank my sperm?
Deciding to bank your sperm is very personal. You may want to use your sperm to have children in the future. However, your current situation or circumstances may not allow you to have a baby through sex (intercourse). Situations or circumstances may include:
- Health conditions. Testicular cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leukemia have high risks of causing male infertility.
- Certain treatments. Some treatments may prevent you from achieving pregnancy (infertility). These may include chemotherapy, orchiectomy or gender affirmation surgery. After these treatments, your sperm cell numbers may decrease significantly, or you may no longer be able to make sperm.
- Age. Most men and people AMAB make millions of new sperm cells each day. However, as you age, the quality of your sperm may decrease. This generally occurs in men aged 40 and older.
- Low sperm count. You may have a low sperm count if you’re younger than 40. Even banking a low number of quality sperm can help you have children through assisted reproductive procedures. One effective procedure in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
- Frequent traveling. Many people travel a lot for work. The best time for women or people assigned female at birth (AFAB) to get pregnant is during their fertile window (five days before ovulation up to one day after ovulation). If your partner ovulates while one of you is traveling, they may use your frozen sperm to become pregnant.
- Military deployment. Dangerous military employment may result in injuries to your reproductive organs.
- Vasectomy. Many people choose to have a vasectomy as a form of birth control. However, they may change their minds as they get older and wish to have children.
If you’re married or in a committed relationship, it’s best if your partner is involved in your decision. If you’re younger than 18, you should discuss your thoughts with your parents, guardians or caregivers.
When should I start banking my sperm?
You may have to decide to bank your sperm quickly, especially if you have a serious illness. It’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about banking your sperm before starting treatment.
It’s usually safe to collect sperm samples during your first week of chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation may damage the genetic material in your developing sperm, but your mature sperm are resistant to damage.
Semen banking is an invaluable service offered by Virukcham IVF Clinic that empowers men to take control of their reproductive health and future family planning options. Whether due to medical reasons or personal choices, our dedicated team is here to guide you through every step of the process with compassion and expertise.
For more information about our semen banking services or to schedule a consultation, please contact us today!
