Definition
Sperm cells are the male germ cells. Colloquially, they are also called sperm cells. In medicine, the term spermatozoa is often used.
They contain the male genetic material for reproduction. This is the single set of chromosomes which, together with the single female set of chromosomes from the egg cell, results in the double set of chromosomes when fertilized. Sperm cells are very small and consist of different parts. The head part contains the set of chromosomes and the tail is used for locomotion in the uterus.
Is it possible to freeze sperm?
A frequent question of couples in family planning is whether sperm can be frozen. The answer is yes. It is possible to freeze sperm and implement your family planning at a later date.
Freezing sperm preserves them for possible later use. This procedure is especially important for patients who, for example, suffer from a tumor disease and need treatment. If the family planning of these patients is not yet complete at the time of starting treatment for a tumor, then sperm freezing is a good solution for later family planning.
Radiation or chemotherapy often damages the germ cells, which can result in infertility. This can happen in both men and women. Freezing the sperm therefore serves the purpose of being able to father children even after the therapy.
The procedure by which sperm can be frozen and stored for a few years is also known as cryopreservation. From the name alone it can be deduced that the sperm are preserved by means of cold. Liquid nitrogen is used here, which cools the sperm down to about minus 190 degrees.
At the beginning of the freezing of the sperm, a consultation takes place in a corresponding institution. The procedure and basic questions are explained. The sperm are frozen for a limited period of time, depending on the contract.
They can then be thawed and used for artificial insemination at any time. The actual process of cryopreservation begins with the release of the man’s ejaculate at time x. This ejaculate is then processed and a check is made to see if it contains sperm that is eligible for artificial insemination.
These are then frozen and preserved in several samples. Liquid nitrogen cools the sperm down to high minus temperatures within a short time. In some cases, a second ejaculation is also necessary or even better. In addition, a hepatitis C and HIV test is performed for possible infection with one of the two pathogens. If these tests are negative, the sperm can be stored in larger tanks until it is needed again for artificial insemination.