Question: why do we freeze sperm?

Laura Wales answered on 15 Jun 2015:

There are a few main reasons we freeze sperm:
(1) Difficulty Producing a Sperm Sample
If a couple are having fertility treatment (eg. IVF) and the man has trouble providing a sperm sample, we might freeze his sperm (when he is able to produce) as a back-up in case he can’t produce on the day of his lady’s treatment.

(2) Very Low Numbers of Sperm
To make sure there are enough sperm on the day of IVF/ICSI we might need to have multiple samples.

(3) Surgically Retrieved Sperm
If we don’t find any sperm in a semen sample, there may be a blockage or absence of one of the tubes that carries the sperm from the testicle to the urethra. The sperm can sometimes be surgically collected and it needs to be frozen so that it can be used when the female partner is ready.

(4) Chemotherapy / Radiotherapy
Some doses can leave a boy/man infertile so freezing sperm gives them the chance to father their own child in the future. We get all different ages of guys, ranging from 12 years old to 70 years old.

(5) Surgery
Sometimes if a guy is going to have an operation on a testicular tumour for example, or if the guy only has one testicle, the surgeon might suggest they have sperm frozen just in case fertility is affected.

(6) Drug / Hormone Treatment
Some men have a medical disorder that they need to take medication for and some medications can affect their fertility. Some drugs may cause abnormalities in a growing foetus if the female partner becomes pregnant so unprotected sex is a big no no!

We also see transgender patients – born as male but living as a female and about to take female hormones. Freezing their sperm allows for them to have a biological child of their own in the future.

Hope this answers your question. If you want more info, let me know.