Sperm banking: what is it and how to do it?

Published by: 11 March 2024, 21:30 pm IST

Fertility is a normal and natural experience for most couples, but some couples may find it difficult to conceive. A man’s fertility is usually directly related to the quantity and quality of his sperm. If the sperm count in the ejaculate is low or the sperm cells are of poor quality, it is difficult and sometimes impossible for a woman to conceive with that sperm. Like women, men have biological clocks and experience an age-dependent decline in fertility. In particular, as men age, their sperm count and motility decline, making fertilization more difficult. Furthermore, the DNA quality of the sperm also deteriorates, thereby increasing the risk of transmitting genetic mutations to the fetus, which may lead to developmental problems in the child. Although these are some of the obstacles, there is a solution that can solve these problems – sperm banking.

What is Sperm Banking?

Sperm cryopreservation or sperm banking is a means of ensuring male fertility. The practice of banking sperm is now considered a promising method of conceiving a child for men at risk of declining fertility. There are many reasons for sperm banking. Some athletes at risk of injury save their futures by avoiding infertility with sperm banking. Men undergoing sterilization by vasectomy prefer to store sperm before the procedure if they choose to father another child one day. Because cancer treatment involving chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery can threaten future fertility, patients undergoing cancer treatments are urged to bank their sperm before these procedures. There are countless reasons for sperm banking and it can help men

Also Read: 7 Tips Millennial Men Follow to Improve Fertility

When to consider sperm banking?

1. Delayed parenthood

It is generally true that marriage and parenthood are pushed forward in age as society refines education, employment, and markers of personal aspiration and freedom. This trend, also seen in India, means that people choose to start families long before their reproductive primes. Sperm produced in men in their 20s are much less likely to have genetic mutations and other abnormalities than those in their 40s and 50s. Healthy sperm banking can help ensure that any children they have in the future are as healthy as possible.

2. Cancer diagnosis

Many commonly used treatments for cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, can permanently affect a man’s ability to father children. It is important to consult a doctor about the risks of infertility or infertility before starting any form of cancer treatment. Oncologists often recommend sperm banking before these procedures to avoid future risks of infertility.

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3. Undergoing testicular, prostate or similar surgery

Any surgery involving the reproductive organs carries a risk of infertility. The option of preoperative sperm storage serves as a fallback in preserving the man’s reproductive capabilities.

4. Before undergoing a vasectomy

Vasectomy is still considered a method of contraception in men. Many prefer the peace of mind that comes with banking their sperm before a vasectomy. This protection gives these men the opportunity to meet fertility needs if needed in the future.

5. While treating infertility

By storing semen prior to insemination procedures, the availability of sperm samples at critical times is ensured. Many men have difficulty producing semen samples on demand due to stress or anxiety. In such situations, pre-storage of semen is useful.

6. If the partner is not available when needed

While undergoing fertility treatment, if, due to unavoidable reasons, the male partner is not available on the day of the fertility procedure, his sperm samples can be stored in a sperm bank beforehand and frozen sperm can be made available for treatment.

7. High-Risk Workplace

Some so-called ‘high-risk’ occupations pose a threat to the male reproductive system and infertility. Therefore, sperm banking is an additional measure to protect the future of the following individuals:

• People working in radiation or nuclear units.
• Workers with environmental pollutants.
• Men prone to accidents/accidents that damage their sacks like policemen, firemen and construction workers.
• Contact athletes who are at high risk for injury to their testicles that may affect their fertility.
• Men in military service.

8. Poor quality semen

Semen cryopreservation may help treat men with low-quality sperm. By freezing multiple ejaculates at different times, fertility centers use techniques to concentrate sperm samples that can be pooled to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. Due to tremendous advances in the field of fertility treatments (assisted reproductive technology), semen banking should be considered even in cases of very low sperm quality, where conception is achieved using a very low number of sperm.

How does sperm cryopreservation work?

Semen banking is a well-established technique. The semen is mixed with a mixture of chemicals to prevent any damage to the underlying genetic material. The sperm cells are gradually brought to lower temperatures using computerized equipment. Finally, the frozen semen is stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196 degrees C, which is constantly monitored and replenished.

When such low temperatures are reached, the entire water content of sperm cells is replaced by certain chemicals and their metabolic activity effectively ceases. In this condition, sperm can be maintained for many years without much damage to its function. This method has proven to provide safe means of storage as no part of the long-term storage system is dependent on a continuous supply source such as electricity. Furthermore, as an added precaution, all storage tanks are inspected daily and continuously monitored by trained professionals who ensure ideal storage conditions.

Who should be contacted for sperm banking?

You can visit any fertility clinic that offers semen banking. The doctor will ask you to collect the semen in a special room meant for this purpose. You may give one or more ejaculations at intervals of 2-3 days. The center will decide how many ejaculations are needed depending on the quality of the semen.

How much does it cost?

The cost of banking depends on how many years you need to save the sperm. Fertility centers usually charge Rs.1 to five years for semen banking. 2000-5000 are charged. The cost, terms and conditions vary from center to centre. You can contact fertility centers to know more about the cost. So far, no limit has been established on how long human semen can be frozen when handled and stored in proper liquid nitrogen storage. A recent report demonstrated a live birth from cryopreserved sperm stored from 30 years ago! Scientific literature conclusively shows that sperm quality i.e. motility, viability and morphology are not significantly affected by proper long-term cryopreservation.

Banking sperm is like a fertility insurance policy, now allowing you to live your life the way you want.