Fertility preservation - sperm freezing: patient information

What is involved in sperm freezing?

Sperm freezing is a method of preserving your fertility by storing sperm before cancer or other treatment begins. To provide a sample for freezing, you will need to masturbate and ejaculate into a sterile container.

Once you have produced your sperm sample, the laboratory team will contact you to inform you about its quality and whether it is suitable for freezing. If time allows, they may recommend providing a second sample to improve the chances of successful fertility preservation.

There is no guarantee that any given semen sample will be suitable for storage. Illness, previous treatments, or other factors can affect sperm production. If this occurs, it may not be possible to freeze the sperm successfully. The only way to confirm this is by laboratory examination of the sperm sample.

How long will I be in for?

The time required for sperm collection and processing is typically brief, usually taking less than an hour. You can usually go home shortly after providing your sample.