Sperm cryopreservation is a technique involving the freezing and storage of sperm. It allows men to proactively plan for future parenthood without concern for declining fertility due to illness, environmental factors, injury, or age. This method is commonly recommended for men preparing for cancer treatment, those working in environments with toxic chemicals, individuals planning gender transition, before undergoing vasectomy, or for those with low or weak sperm counts. It is also an option for men who do not yet plan to have children but wish to preserve their fertility due to age, and can be used as needed during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Given your exposure to chemicals, you should consider sperm cryopreservation to mitigate the risk of these hazardous substances affecting your sperm and fertility. At the Center for Reproductive Assistance, Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM (IVF Tam Anh TP HCM), the process begins with a doctor's examination, consultation, and blood tests to screen for infectious diseases. Following this, you will provide a semen sample. Fresh samples of normal quality undergo a slow-freezing technique. Embryologists then preserve the samples at a temperature of -196 degrees C using liquid nitrogen, which halts all biological activity. This preservation method allows for extended storage without compromising sperm quality.

Embryologists perform sperm cryopreservation. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

It is advisable to abstain from ejaculation for three to five days before providing your sample. In cases where sperm count is low or absent, doctors may employ aspiration or scrotal incision techniques to retrieve sperm for cryopreservation, even if in small quantities. Vitrification, an ultra-rapid freezing technique, helps prevent the formation of ice crystals and significantly increases sperm survival rates after thawing.

When you are ready to conceive, an embryologist will thaw your stored sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF) with your wife's eggs. Doctors will then select a high-quality embryo for transfer into the uterus, aiming to increase the chances of successful pregnancy and a healthy birth.

Doctor Nguyen Cong Danh

Andrology Unit, Center for Reproductive Assistance

Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM