Sperm Freezing

Cryopreservation of sperm (sometimes also known as sperm banking) is the process of freezing and storing a man's sperm for future use. There are several reasons why men choose to freeze their sperm. For men who need cancer treatment or a medical procedure that could affect their fertility, sperm freezing can preserve their fertility in the future.

IVF using frozen sperm has comparable success rates to using fresh sperm. At Penn Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, sperm banking is one of several fertility preservation options we offer.

Sperm Freezing and Storage in Pennsylvania: Why Choose Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health?

At Penn Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, you'll find:

• State-of-the-art fertility lab: We store your sperm in our secure, on-site lab that's just steps from our clinic. Experienced embryologists oversee our facility, which is accredited by the College of American Pathologists. This accreditation means we meet the highest quality and safety standards in our lab.
• Convenient care: We collect, analyze, freeze and store sperm on-site, so it's always ready when you need it. This is a great option if you can't be present on the day of an intrauterine insemination (IUI) or egg retrieval procedure. For single women or same-sex female couples, we can also store donor sperm that you purchase from a sperm bank.
• Range of fertility services: When you're ready to use your sperm, we offer advanced treatments including IUI, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and frozen embryo transfer. We can also explain your options for using donor eggs or a gestational surrogate. No matter your needs or situation, we'll build a fertility plan to help you achieve your dream of starting a family.

Is Sperm Freezing Right for Me?

Reasons to freeze your sperm may include:

• Age: Sperm quality and quantity tend to decline after age 35. There are fewer sperm in the semen, and the sperm are more likely to have poor movement or shape.
• Cancer: Chemotherapy or hormone therapy can damage sperm. Radiation therapy or surgery near the reproductive organs or pelvis can also affect fertility.
• Gender transition: People transitioning from male to female (transgender women) may want to consider sperm freezing before starting hormone therapy.
• High-risk occupations: Many men freeze their sperm before active military duty, or if their job requires other high-risk activities or exposure to hazardous substances.
• Vasectomy: You don't want kids now, but that doesn't mean you won't change your mind. Freezing sperm before your vasectomy keeps your options open.

When Should You Freeze Your Sperm?

The ideal time to freeze your sperm is before age 35, preferably earlier. Sperm volume and quality tend to peak in a man's late 20s and early 30s. But everyone's individual circumstances are different and sperm freezing is a viable option for older men as well.

What Can I Expect During the Sperm Freezing Process?

The sperm freezing process is fairly simple:

1. Abstinence: Don't ejaculate for 2 to 5 days before you produce your sample (no sex or masturbation). Abstinence ensures the highest possible sperm count in your sample.
2. Semen sample: Schedule an appointment for the day of your sperm freeze. Produce your semen sample at our fertility clinic or at home. Do not use lotions, lubricants or saliva, which can harm the sperm.
3. Semen analysis: Our embryologists evaluate the quantity and quality of sperm in the semen to ensure there's enough to freeze. Then they wash and concentrate the sample.
4. Sperm freezing: We freeze sperm using an advanced flash-freezing technique called vitrification. Vitrification reduces the risk of sperm dying during freezing and thawing.
5. Sperm storage: We store your frozen sperm in secure containers containing liquid nitrogen. Sperm can be frozen indefinitely.

How Much Does Sperm Freezing Cost?

The sperm freezing process is less expensive than other types of fertility preservation such as egg freezing. There is an initial cost to freeze sperm, and then annual storage fees for the duration of cryopreservation. You should also consider the costs of male infertility testing, which we do at our clinic before sperm freezing.

What if There Isn't Enough Sperm in My Sample to Freeze?

Sometimes we receive a semen sample that contains very few or no sperm. If this is the case, we may refer you to a urologist for more specialized testing. Some men need surgical sperm retrieval. During the procedure, a surgeon takes sperm directly from your testicle or epididymis (tube that carries sperm from your testicle). If you need sperm retrieval, we work closely with your surgeon to ensure we receive the sample at our lab for freezing.

Make an Appointment

Call 717-544-0107 or request an appointment to schedule your fertility consultation.