How does freezing sperm work

It is not currently possible to freeze and thaw a whole ovary or kidney. To successfully freeze cells we must remove cell water water expansion during freezing would burst the cell and replace the water inside the cell with antifreeze. This is done by incubating the cells in a solution of antifreeze.

The water and antifreeze swap places through the process of simple osmosis. In a complex tissue like an ovary, there is no way to get all the water out of all of the cells so easily, thus a whole ovary cannot be frozen. If the ovary is chopped up into tiny pieces however, more water can be extracted. Some success has been reported with freezing ovarian pieces in this way.

The following student experiment demonstrates the challenges of freezing. Place a whole peach into your freezer for 24 hours and then thaw it out and see what a mess you have. If however you slice the peach up and mix the slices with sugar for 15 minutes the sugar will draw out water from the cells , you can freeze the peach quite successfully. If the technology is used correctly, you can keep your peach or your sperm for leaner times. We're here to go at your pace and answer any questions you have.

Phone number. Email address. Shannon Hee Kyung Kim Prof. Michael Chapman. How did you hear about us? Subscribe to newsletter. General enquiry You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Need help? Sperm freezing makes this possible, and is recommended before undergoing gender-affirming hormone therapy typically estrogen and androgen-blockers. A review looked at nearly 40 years of research on the impact of cross-sex hormones on the sperm quality and testicular function of trans women.

The effect seems to be dose-dependent; in one study , a low-dose estrogen therapy had no impact on sperm concentration or motility, while a higher-dose regimen resulted in reduced sperm motility after a few days and reduced sperm concentration after 2 weeks. In some cases, sperm count and quality can be recovered.

However, the impact of medical gender transition on fertility, as well as the capacity for spermatogenesis to recover if estrogen treatment is paused, seem to be variable and individual.

Case studies demonstrate that, while some patients continued spermatogenesis through gender-affirming hormone treatment, others stopped producing sperm altogether, and several experienced azoospermia for 4—5 months after pausing therapy. Sperm freezing prior to hormone therapy offers an option for trans women to preserve their ability to become a genetic parent, and to avoid the need for long-term cessation of their hormone treatment later on to allow spermatogenesis to recover.

Historically, many trans people did not get adequate counseling on their fertility prior to starting hormone therapy. That seems to be changing. A vasectomy is a highly effective contraceptive option. During a vasectomy, the vas deferens—the tube that brings sperm from the testes to the penis—is cut and sealed.

This may be due to a new marriage, the death of a child, change in financial situation, or a couple simply changing their mind and deciding they want children.

The procedure can take 3—4 hours—substantially longer than the typical minute vasectomy—because reversals are technically challenging surgeries. During a vasectomy, the vas deferens, which is the tube that stores sperm and carries it out of the scrotal sac, is severed. Those severed ends have to be reconnected with a great deal of precision during a vasectomy reversal to allow the sperm to once again enter ejaculate.

Sperm freezing is also significantly less expensive—and invasive—than attempting vasectomy reversal. Freezing your sperm before a vasectomy provides you with a back-up plan, just in case you change your mind. With this option, you can choose to have another biological child without having to undergo vasectomy reversal surgery. Military service is a high-risk career. A study of veterans of the US War on Terror found that rates of infertility were significantly higher—nearly twice as high—among veterans compared to civilians.

A book that analyzed the generational health effects of serving in the Gulf War reported that paternal exposure to pesticides at work was associated with an increased risk of having a preterm birth, and that paternal exposure to other chemicals, heavy metals, or petroleum products at home or at work increased the risk of a child born with birth defects. One study referenced in the book compared the semen parameters, fecundity, and follicle-stimulating hormone FSH levels were measured of 64 men exposed to chemical agents such as mustard gas to 64 veterans with injuries, but no sulfur mustard exposure.

Male factor infertility was diagnosed in Understanding these potential risks, military personnel may choose to preserve their fertility through sperm freezing before deployment. Learn more about sperm freezing for members of the military.

In addition to military service, there are a number of professions that pose an increased risk of male infertility. People in these occupations may consider sperm freezing to preserve their fertility early in their careers.

Research shows that sperm-producing people who work in the agriculture, herbicides, construction, machinist, plastic production, printing industry, tobacco processing, and welding industries may see a negative impact on their fertility, including reduced sperm count and increased risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

The evidence points towards exposure to toxic substances, such as pesticides, lead, metals, petrochemicals, and more. Exposure to radiation can also negatively impact male fertility. A study that analyzed 90 male radiographers against 90 men not exposed to x-ray radiation showed that there was significant association between exposure to radiation and miscarriage, congenital anomalies, still birth, and infertility. Although men have been known to father children well into their 60s and beyond, it is known that sperm quality decreases after the age of This includes a significant decrease in pregnancy rate, an increase in time to conception, an increase in miscarriage risk, and an increase in potential adverse pregnancy outcomes.

All of this occurs because sperm quality parameters count, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation naturally change with age. On average, a male can expect to see a 0. Even when you do your best to plan for the future, sometimes life veers from your course. Freezing your sperm at its youngest and healthiest can help provide peace of mind that no matter what happens in the future, you have a plan B you can count on.

The type of treatment recommended can vary depending on the number in storage and quality of sperm pre and post freezing that is available. As part of this process, your partner may also require some basic fertility investigations. Your embryologist will provide information to your doctor about post-thaw quality.

Could there be a problem with the quality of sperm? Yes, there may be a problem with the number and quality of the sperm, especially in men who are about to undergo cancer treatment. Their underlying illness may have caused a reduction in the sperm count or in their motility movement. In such situations, it may be advisable to freeze even more specimens if time and treatment permit. Research has shown no difference in the rates of abnormalities or birth defects among children conceived with fresh versus frozen sperm.

However, there are some theoretical concerns that chemotherapy drugs may have unknown effects on the sperm or the offspring. If possible, it is best to freeze the specimens before chemotherapy begins. What options are available if I choose not to keep my sperm cryopreserved? Whatever option you decide on, signed consent forms are required.

Please contact the fertility coordinators to discuss these options. Cost of sperm freezing. After the initial six months, costs apply for storing one or more samples at City Fertility. This bi-annual storage fee applies regardless of the number of samples stored and is not refundable. Please contact our friendly team for further information about our current rates.