Semen Cryopreservation
A man's fertility can decrease for various reasons, including lifestyle, health conditions, and genetic factors.
Age, exposure to environmental chemicals (such as those used in the production of plastics, paints, and surface treatments, as well as pesticides), certain medications, hormonal preparations, and even diet can negatively affect sperm production. Sometimes the quality of semen can unpredictably decrease due to trauma to the genital area.
Read more: Male Fertility and Its Examination
Semen can be collected, cryopreserved, and stored for potential future use. Cryopreserving semen is particularly worth considering if there are known risk factors that may impair sperm production. Due to the effects of age, it is advisable to cryopreserve semen before the age of 40.
Semen can also be cryopreserved before gender reassignment procedures, preserving the possibility of having a biological child even if sperm production weakens or ceases. Cryopreserving semen can be recommended before starting cancer treatments, and men can cryopreserve semen before vasectomy, i.e., sterilization.
Semen samples can be cryopreserved multiple times if it is expected that one’s own gametes will no longer be obtainable after treatments.
There may be a need to cryopreserve semen for future fertility treatment for other reasons as well. Read more.
Before Cryopreservation
Before cryopreservation, it is advisable to determine the quality of the semen through a sperm analysis. The sperm analysis can be done at the same time as you come to cryopreserve the semen. If necessary, the cryopreservation tolerance of sperm can be determined in advance by performing a trial cryopreservation.
Before starting the cryopreservation of the semen sample, we conduct blood tests required by law. This ensures the safety of clients and samples regarding infection transmission during the storage of gametes. The mandatory infection tests include hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV screening tests. Semen cryopreservation can only be done after the blood test results are ready. If infection samples have been taken elsewhere, official documentation of the research results must be provided to Felicitas Mehiläinen.
Sampling and Cryopreservation
The semen sample is given in the sample collection room at Felicitas Mehiläinen in a sample container provided by the clinic. You can read more detailed instructions on sampling here. Multiple sample collection sessions may be needed depending on your situation and the quality of the semen. You will receive guidance from the clinic after the first cryopreservation session.
Upon receiving the semen, the staff will verify the identity of the sample donor, so please bring an identity document with you.
Semen can be cryopreserved as is, or it can be concentrated or washed, where the best-quality sperm are separated from the seminal plasma into the culture medium before cryopreservation. The procedure depends on the quality of the sample and its intended use. A solution containing cryoprotectant agents is used as the cryopreservation medium. The storage container is a plastic capillary tube, or cryopreservation straw. The straws are stored at the clinic in liquid nitrogen at –196.6°C, where the cells remain viable for years.
Cryopreservation Agreement
When cryopreserving gametes, a cryopreservation agreement is made, which is valid for three (3) years at a time. The cryopreservation agreement is made at the clinic during the first cryopreservation session and is delivered to you completed when the cryopreservation process is finished. The storage fee is billed annually as long as gametes remain and the agreement is valid. The agreement can be terminated at any time by notifying the clinic in writing, at which point storage is stopped and the gametes are destroyed. At the end of the agreement, you can continue storage by notifying the clinic, at which point the agreement is renewed for a fixed term. If the agreement is not renewed, it ends on its last valid day without separate termination, and the gametes are destroyed.
Use of Cryopreserved Semen
Cryopreserved semen can be used after thawing for insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF), or microinjection treatments (ICSI), depending on the quality of the semen. The treatment plan is always made individually with the doctor.
Semen Cryopreservation Phases:
- Infection tests
- Sperm analysis and sampling for cryopreservation, usually 1-3 times
- Cryopreservation agreement
- Sample storage at the clinic in accordance with the agreement
- Use of cryopreserved sperm for fertility treatment OR
- Disposal of sperm in accordance with the agreement
