Semen cryopreservation – should I freeze my sperm just in case?
Semen cryopreservation is a topic that comes up from time to time among vasectomy patients. Before deciding on the procedure, some patients surely wonder:
What if I change my mind in the future and one day want children after all?
What if my partner, who doesn’t want children now, feels the need for offspring in the future?
The decision to freeze semen plays an important role in the decision-making process about the procedure itself. If you are wondering about this yourself, read these few facts:
Fact no. 1: Cryopreservation provides semen with about 50% less value compared to fresh semen. This is because, to make the sperm suitable for freezing, they must first be chemically “dried”, which kills some of them. The freezing itself also reduces their viability.
Fact no. 2: A vasectomy does not make you sterile – only infertile. The difference is that you still produce fully viable sperm capable of fertilisation. In the future, if you decide to have children, you will be able to have fresh sperm retrieved directly from the epididymis. They can be used in assisted reproduction. And you will still have your vasectomy.
Fact no. 3: If you and your partner do want to conceive a child naturally, it is possible to undergo a reversal operation and restore the patency of your vas deferens. However, firstly, the effectiveness of a reversal depends on many factors. One of them is the time elapsed since the procedure. Secondly, after a successful reversal and conceiving a child, you will have to return to the old methods of contraception.
If you have no children at all, consider whether you should freeze your semen in case you change your mind in the future. If you are unsure whether you might still want children, also consider banking your semen.
Discuss the matter with your family. Don’t be afraid to talk about it with your father, even if you are a mature man yourself. And don’t fear criticism – the people you choose to talk to certainly have your best interests at heart, and their opinions are worth hearing.