Inside the sperm bank
Sperm freezing, also known as sperm cryopreservation, is a method used to preserve sperm for future use.
Once it's determined that sperm freezing is the right choice for you, the next step is to provide a sperm sample. The sample is collected through masturbation and is then sent to our laboratory for analysis and processing.
In the laboratory, the sperm is first washed to remove any debris or dead sperm. It's then mixed with a cryoprotectant solution that helps to protect the sperm during the freezing process.
The mixture is placed in small vials and slowly cooled to a very low temperature, typically -196°C, using a special freezing technique called vitrification. The vials are then stored in liquid nitrogen tanks, where they can remain for years or even decades without losing their viability.
When you are ready to use your frozen sperm, it's thawed and prepared for use in a fertility treatment. Depending on your specific situation, the sperm may be used in an intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.