Sperm Freezing/Sperm Banking

Sperm freezing is the process of collecting, analyzing, freezing and storing a man’s sperm. The samples are later used for fertility treatments or donated to other couples or individuals, including same-sex female partners. This overall process is known as cryopreservation and is sometimes referred to as sperm banking.

The cryopreservation process involves

• Routine Screening for Infection (HIV, HBsAg and VDRL).
• Take the semen consent from couple.
• Collection a semen sample in a sterile container or undergoing a sperm extraction.
• Semen analysis of sperm quantity and quality.
• Allow semen sample to liquefy at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Freezing of viable sperm by sperm cryopreservation technique as usually,add equal volume 1:1 cryoprotactants media dropwise to the sample and mix well for 10 minutes.
• Label the cryovial with patient name and add the sample to it.
• Write the name of patient on the alluminium can.
• Attach the cryovial to the alluminium can with cell tape and keep it in the chiller (at 4 degree Celsius) for 20 minutes.
• Keep on liquid nitrogen vapour (-70 degree celsius ) poured into the thermo cool box for 20 minutes.
• Storage of the sperm indefinitely by plunging it in liquid nitrogen at -196 degree Celsius

 

Indications of semen banking

-Donor insemination.

-Fertility preservation for cancer patients and person who had vasectomy

-An ART procedures-AIH, IUI, IVF and ICSI.

-To avoid repeated biopsies in azoospermia

-Some chronic disorders like DM, autoimmune disorders and others

Thawing of Frozen semen sample

(For insemination)

-Remove the correct vial and allow it to thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes in the laminar flow.

-Clean the external surface with absolute alcohol and allow the alcohol to vaporize.

-Add 2ml of flushing media in a sterile 5 ml test tube.

-Add the content of the vial drop wise to flushing media and mixed well.

-This is further subjected to either swim up or density gradient method.

Cryopreservation by virtification

It is a rapid technique for cryopreservation of both gamates and embryos. It is defined as an instant solidification of a solution brought about by an extreme elevation in viscosity during cooling without ice crystal formation. It is a fast method with high survival rate, due to low risk damage to the cells from ice crystal formation.

Virtification of water inside cells can be achieved by

-Increase the speed of temperature conduction

-Increasing the concentration of cryoprotactant.

Vertification process=Material and equipment are needed. cryosolution like equilibrium solution and virtification solution are needed.

The procedure of virtification and warming process is as usual as to be done by an embryologist for warming process the thawing solution, dilution solution and washing solutions are needed.