Sperm Freezing

What is Sperm Freezing?

The process of temporarily stopping the viability of cells is called freezing (cryopreservation), and then the process of restoring their viability is called thaw.

Sperm freezing is the process of freezing and storing the sperms taken from the man in various ways (including surgery) in the laboratory environment for use in IVF treatment by thawing in the future.

Freezing Processes

Freezing and thawing processes are controlled by legal regulations. The storage period of all frozen materials is 5 years. The extension of this period may be possible with the petitions submitted to the District Health Directorates. Sperm freezing can be performed in the following cases.

• Can be applied before chemotherapy in cancer treatments,
• Can be applied before medication use or surgery that may cause sperm cell damage,
• Can be applied to patients whose sperm count is low and it is thought that it may be difficult to obtain sperm in the future,
• Can be applied to men who have ejaculation problems due to spinal cord injuries resulting from an accident,

How is the Sperm Freezing Process Done?

Sperm Collection

For sperm freezing, it is necessary to collect a sperm sample from the man. Sperm sample can be collected in two different ways. First, you can give sperm by masturbation method in sperm collection rooms in our clinic. In cases where the sperm count is low or the patient cannot give sperm by masturbation and no sperm is found in the ejaculate, the sperm sample is taken by surgical procedure. Sperm can be collected from the testicle with MESA, TESE, TESA, PESA procedures. These procedures are performed under local or general anesthesia.

Before giving sperm, it is necessary to perform sexual abstinence for 3 -6 days. During this time, the man should not have any sexual intercourse or ejaculate through masturbation. It is not right to prolong the fasting period in order to increase the number of sperm. Because when the time is extended, the number of sperm will increase and sperm motility and quality will decrease.

Sperm Analysis

The collected sperm are analyzed before freezing. In semen analysis; sperm count, motility and structure are evaluated. Thus, it is ensured that the healthiest sperms are selected and frozen.

If the sperm sample taken is not of the desired quality, your doctor may ask you to give a sperm sample once again. After the sperm analysis is completed, the sperm taken are frozen at -197 degrees using specially formulated sperm freezing liquid.

Freeze-stored cells; If the person who is taken does not renew the annual protocol, it is destroyed by the request or in case of death, under the supervision of an officer determined by the Provincial Health Directorate.
Freezing of sperms, especially in azoospermia cases, provides great convenience for the male patient in possible repeated IVF trials and eliminates the stress of a new operation.