Texas Super Doctors - Legacy Member

Preserve Your Fertility with Sperm Freezing

For men looking to preserve their fertility or help others grow their families, we offer sperm freezing at our San Antonio, TX, practice. Using carefully monitored storage technology, our clinicians can freeze and preserve a viable sperm sample for 10 years or longer. Contact us today to set up an appointment and learn if sperm freezing is right for your needs.

The Basics of Sperm Freezing

Semen cryopreservation is the process of freezing sperm to preserve fertility. The ideal age range for freezing sperm is between 18 and 35 years. The stored sperm can be used for a variety of fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination.

Patients consider sperm freezing for a number of reasons:

  • They must undergo medical treatments that may affect fertility (such as chemotherapy).
  • They want to have a vasectomy but wish to preserve fertility in case they decide to grow their families in the future.
  • A low sperm count or deteriorating sperm quality indicates declining fertility.
  • They experience difficulty producing a sperm sample on the day of treatment.
  • A friend or loved one wishes to grow their family, but needs a viable sperm sample.

During a consultation, you and one of our doctors can discuss your goals and other factors in detail to determine if this option is right for you. We provide many advanced fertility preservation treatments to accommodate a range of needs.

Sperm samples have a standard storage time of around 10 years. In some cases, pregnancy has been achieved using samples that were stored for more than 20 years.

The Sperm Freezing Procedure

Those wishing to freeze their sperm will first undergo a health screening for conditions such as HIV, and hepatitis B and C. Patients also undergo an evaluation of sperm quality. If our doctors determine that sperm freezing is an appropriate way to meet your goals, we will schedule an appointment for you to provide a sperm sample in our clinic. Prior to the appointment, you should abstain from sexual intercourse for two to five days, and have one ejaculation within the last five days.

Once the sample is collected, it is then frozen and stored in a tank containing liquid nitrogen, where it will be carefully monitored throughout its storage. Once frozen, the sperm typically is not used for at least six months. During this period, it is further tested to ensure the sample is healthy and viable.

How Long Does Frozen Sperm Last?

Sperm samples have a standard storage time of around 10 years. In some cases, pregnancy has been achieved using samples that were stored for more than 20 years. While every precaution is taken to protect the sample, a small portion often becomes unusable within 48 hours of the freezing process. However, more than 50 percent typically survive the effects.

Contact Us Today

Here at the Fertility Center of San Antonio, our mission is to provide state-of-the-art therapy in a supportive environment. If you are considering sperm freezing, reach out today to take advantage of our compassionate and effective careOur doctors can determine if sperm freezing is a viable and appropriate option for meeting your goals.