Sperm Cryopreservation

Manhattan CryoBank provides cryopreservation services to men who wish to have children in the future but face sterility due to various reasons.

What is Sperm Cryopreservation?
Sperm Cryopreservation entails depositing, processing, freezing and storage of sperm at a semen bank for short- or long-term storage. Cryopreserved sperm is then used in artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and other assisted reproductive procedures.

Proven, long-established techniques enable semen specimens to be frozen and stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen. According to the client’s specific wishes, these specimens can later be thawed and used in an attempt to conceive a child through therapeutic insemination or other assisted reproductive techniques.

How are specimens collected?
Prior to the collection of semen, sexual abstinence of at least 2 days but not more than 5 days is recommended to maximize the quality of the sample. The specimen is collected into a sterile container by masturbation. Collection may occur at home provided that it does not take more than one hour to bring the sample to our facility. Otherwise, specimens may be collected at our facility where a special room has been designated for that purpose.

What are the common reasons for semen Cryopreservation?

•	Some men discover they have diseases or must undergo treatment or surgery that will cause permanent sterilization or genetic damage. As cancer detection and treatment techniques improve, more cancer conditions are being detected at younger ages in men, with better and longer survival rates. Therefore, more men in their fertile years are now considering this option.
•	In cases of oligozoospermia (low sperm counts) where multiple semen collections and pooling may be desirable for use in a single insemination.
•	To preserve semen for deferred inseminations when an intimate partner is temporarily absent, i.e. military service. Some men find circumstances force them to be away from their wives during a period of time in which they had planned to conceive a child. Therapeutic insemination using their cryopreserved semen allows such couples a chance to follow their desired plan.
•	Prior to assisted reproductive technologies such as In Vitro Fertilization, Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer, etc., to secure a good quality semen specimen for the prospective procedure.
•	Some fertile men wish to have a vasectomy, but still desire to keep a possible option open to father children should their circumstances change in the future.
•	Some men are engaged in high risk occupations, including at-work exposure to radiation or dangerous chemicals, and wish to ensure a future chance to father children
•	Professional athletes who risk testicular injury
•	A couple or a single woman may elect to use sperm from a directed (designated) donor to achieve a pregnancy. We quarantine the semen for a period of time while the donor is screened for infectious diseases.

How Is Semen Cryopreserved?
Each sample is first evaluated and analyzed microscopically. Samples are then mixed with a special media or solution to help provide protection during freezing and thawing. The samples are placed in special plastic vials that are coded and carefully frozen in nitrogen vapor .

Once frozen, the vials are immersed in liquid nitrogen and stored in cryogenic tanks at a temperature of -196°C (-321°F). The liquid nitrogen is independent of any source of power. Cryogenic tanks are checked daily and replenished as needed.

Are blood tests needed to screen for infectious diseases?
Current New York State Department of Health guidelines do not require screening for intimate partners. However, directed (designated) sperm donors must be screened for certain infectious agents. We are required by current regulatory guidelines to perform blood tests on directed donors that include but are not limited to:

• HIV 1/2
• Hepatitis C virus
• Hepatitis B virus
• HTLV I-II
• Syphilis
• Chlamydia / Gonorrhea
• CMV IgG/IgM

The above blood tests must be obtained from directed donors before or on the first appointment. If blood tests are completed at a different location, please ensure the results are sent to us no later than 2 weeks after your first freezing date.

For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact our office.