When Should I Freeze and Store My Sperm?

Obviously, the choice is yours. You can opt for sperm freezing to stop worrying about declining sperm quality due to lifestyle and other factors. But there are some scenarios when you must consider doing it.

1. Advancing Age
2. Testicular or Scrotal Surgery
3. Cancer Treatments
4. Spinal Cord Injury
5. Diabetes and Other Disorders
6. Are There Any Side Effects Of Sperm Freezing?
7. Getting Started!

Advancing Age

The biological clock is not a myth. Although men have a longer fertility window, the sexual health and quality of sperm starts declining with age. It becomes imperative to either have children at a young age or save sperm cells in their healthier form for later use.

With a cultural and economic shift worldwide, the average age for having children is increasing. People want to make careers before having the responsibility of kids. This trend has also contributed to the rise in infertility.

Sperm freezing has arrived to save the day and help people bear children in their desired timeframe. You can save your sperm at a young age to liberate yourself from potential fertility problems in later years.

Testicular or Scrotal Surgery

Testicular or scrotal surgeries carry a risk of interference with spermatogenesis. Trauma or disorders like a varicocele (swelling of the scrotum and lack of blood circulation) need surgical interventions. Some individuals have undescended or malpositioned testis that need to be fixed with surgery. These interventions may damage testes or scrotum and result in infertility.

This does not mean everyone who undergoes these procedures experiences infertility. It is a potential risk, and a proactive approach dictates preserving fertility. So, it is better to freeze sperm before any medical procedure that may lead to fertility problems.

Cancer Treatments

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy reduce male fertility. The fertility testing in patients undergoing treatment for malignancy shows structural abnormalities of sperm cells (azoospermia). The toxicity levels have diminished with the advent of better medicinal technologies. But most males still struggle to regain the fertility levels.

So, it is better to preserve fertility before starting treatment for malignancies. Structural changes of sperm take time to appear. Usually, it happens with continuous toxic chemotherapeutic drugs to stop tumour growth. So, you can also save sperm cells during chemotherapy before the azoospermia sets in.

Spinal Cord Injury

Many spinal cord injuries lead to loss of sensation and nerve supply to the penis. It is why they often become a source of infertility. Sperm freezing helps such individuals to preserve fertility and have healthy children.

Diabetes and Other Disorders

Diabetes affects your nerves and reduces sensations in your body. People with diabetes type 2 suffer from erectile dysfunction because the nerves supplying the penis weaken over time. It interferes with sexual well-being, causes erection problems and leads to men experiencing infertility.

In recent years, diabetes has become common at a young age due to widespread obesity. Besides, diabetes has a variant that appears specifically in earlier years of life. It is linked with genetics and impossible to avoid with a healthier lifestyle. A family history may help you recognize your risk of having it.

Diabetes type 1 is the type of diabetes that occurs before 30 years and is familial in nature. Some people get it in their teen years whilst others have a childhood onset. For such individuals, sperm freezing proves tremendously beneficial.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Sperm Freezing

No. The sperm freezing procedure is straightforward and demands a sample collection only. You do not take any medication or undergo invasive procedures.

You can even take semen samples at home. There are no risk factors, and people with pre-existing medical conditions can also opt for sperm freezing safely.

Getting Started

The first step is to gain the appropriate information. Now that you have it, you can weigh the pros and cons to decide (there are no cons, though!). Take a sperm analysis test now and assess if you can freeze your sperm immediately or need to improve their quality before preserving them. It’s all in your hands, seize your fertility and mold it to your timeline!