According to experts, sperm freezing is on the rise

08.04.2015

Sperm freezing or sperm cryopreservation has actually been around since the early 1950s, when the first resulting human pregnancies were recorded. Although there are no statistics available on the number of men doing it, experts say it’s on the rise.

“We’re noticing that it’s growing slowly, but it’s growing,” said Dr. Shahin Ghadir, a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist and founding partner of Southern California Reproductive Center in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Those men who are facing chemotherapy, radiation or a medical condition that could affect their fertility may choose to freeze their sperm. In addition, some men are concerned about having a future accident or trauma to their genitals, Ghadir said. Men who have opted for a vasectomy may choose to freeze their sperm beforehand since a reversal requires surgery and is not always successful.

“Men can remain fertile even in their 40s, 50s and 60s but there are certain things that can have a significant impact on fertility,” said Dr. Eric J. Forman, a fertility specialist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey.

For couples who are undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) it might be wise to have frozen sperm, too. Having frozen sperm is a good idea if a man will be traveling or unavailable when his partner’s eggs are scheduled to be retrieved. Some men also have “performance anxiety,” but with frozen sperm, they don’t have to worry about producing a sample on demand.

Experts say men are also concerned about the effect age may have on their fertility since studies show that the older a man is, the more likely the pregnancy will result in a miscarriage.

Also they may worry about their future children. According to a study in the journal Nature, older fathers are more likely to pass on genetic mutations linked to autism than younger ones. Another study in the journal Psychiatry found that both autism and psychiatric disorders were more likely with older fathers.

What men should know

Unlike egg freezing, which is a lengthy process that involves medication and an invasive procedure, sperm freezing is quick and easy for men. It’s also less expensive— just a few hundred dollars to freeze and annual storage fees that range between $500 and $1,000.

Some studies suggest that the DNA of sperm can be affected by the freezing-thawing process, yet experts say it’s safe and effective. In fact, a study in the journal PLOS ONE, found that fresh sperm is as effective as frozen for a successful IVF pregnancy. When one sample is collected, it contains millions of sperm. So if some aren’t viable or don’t look good in the lab, it won’t make or break the success of a pregnancy.

Researchers are also looking into the possibility of recommendations for men to freeze their sperm—even if they’re healthy— because of the potential age-related effects on fertility.

Bases on: foxnews.com