Different ways of sperm freezing and its applications
Sperm freezingWhat is sperm freezing?
Freezing of sperms is known as a method of long-term preservation of sperms at a very low temperature so that they can be used at the time needed for fertilization. Couples who have fertility problems or even couples without problems use this method for their future pregnancies.
For a successful pregnancy, there must be eggs, sperm and a healthy uterine environment. Disturbance in any one of these cases can make the pregnancy process difficult.
Sperm freezing techniques, in addition to being performed in sperm banks and infertility centers, are also used in fields such as the animal husbandry industry. In this process, sperms are frozen at the boiling point of liquid nitrogen, i.e. -196 degrees Celsius, to stop the biochemical activities inside the cell.
Although sperm freezing for a long time can reduce the quality of fertility, these days it will be very useful to preserve the fertility of men who are on the verge of losing the quantity and quality of their sperm.
It should be mentioned that the aging of men will lead to a decline in the quality of sperm over time, which increases the risk of having babies with chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome.
Perform sperm freezingHow to freeze sperm and use frozen sperm:
In the first step, the person should be checked for infectious diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis, etc. Sperm samples are mostly created through male masturbation.
After that, the sperm samples are mixed with a liquid to prevent damage to the sperms. Before they freeze the sperms, they put them in special straws so that they can use them several times if needed. The prepared sperms are gradually cooled and then placed in liquid nitrogen.
Men who have frozen sperm if they intend to conceive; They should do this with one of the assisted reproductive methods. The most common methods used to fertilize frozen sperm are IVF and IUI.
If the sperms do not have the desired quality after melting, they use one of the assisted reproductive methods called microinjection. It should be noted that before using any assisted reproductive method, the frozen sperms are first thawed and then used.
How to freeze spermApplications of sperm freezing:
Sperm freezing has wide applications in the field of treating male fertility problems and other disorders related to the reproductive system. But in general, among the most important uses of sperm freezing, the following can be mentioned:
Protection of the power of reproduction and childbearing in all stages of a person's life
Having a sperm sample before any surgery in the area of the reproductive system so that there is a possibility of fertility in the event of a disruption due to the surgery.
Storing sperm in sperm banks before vasectomy or testicle removal
If the man of the family is away from his wife, the sperms are available for fertilization.
Saving sperms before performing destructive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Saving sperm in people prone to cancer or kidney diseases
Observing a lack of sperm or a rapid decrease in sperm in men
The impossibility of a man's presence in the clinic on the day of treatments such as IVF
Maintaining a healthy sample of men's sperm exposed to X-rays, radioactive substances, chemical products, toxins, extreme heat and other substances harmful to sperm health
Performing assisted reproductive procedures, especially for more than one occasion
A man's willingness to donate sperm; It should be noted that some men donate their sperms for scientific studies in the field of infertility, so this action is not done only for having children.
Frozen sperm can be stored for ten years or more. If it is ensured that they will not be used, the sperms can be sterilized or thrown away at the request of the donor.
How long does frozen sperm last?
In general, it can be said that sperms can be stored as long as they are in liquid nitrogen. But studies show that frozen sperm does not have a specific expiration date. Due to the progress made in this field, the health and integrity of the sperm can be maintained. Based on the observations made, the sperm that was frozen for 20 years had the ability to be fertile.
The shelf life of sperm freezingSperm freezing methods:
Freezing sperms is done with different methods, each of which has specific advantages and disadvantages. The main techniques used for this process include the following:
Slow Freezing:
As it is clear from the name of this method, the process of freezing sperms takes place slowly and in 2-3 stages, each of which takes 2-4 hours. In slow freezing, a device or liquid nitrogen vapor may be used. In both cases, special low molecular weight chemicals are added to the semen to prevent sperm cells from freezing.
Glass or quick freeze:
In the quick or glass freezing of sperms, after adding special materials, the sample is placed at a distance of 15 to 20 cm from liquid nitrogen for 15 minutes, then the straws containing this sample are dipped into liquid nitrogen.
Considering that the freezing of sperms has a very high speed, there is a possibility of reducing the quality of sperms after thawing them, it should be noted that this technique often prevents damage to the cells.
It should be noted that sperm freezing in this method does not take place in the form of life ice, but will create a glass form. On the other hand, the high speed of this method reduces the need for equipment, so it is considered an advantage.
Short-term freezing:
Another method that is considered for freezing sperms; It is a short-term method that has often been successfully performed for animal samples, but its effectiveness to protect fertility in human sperm still needs work.
Although the process of sperm freezing with any method involves a risk of damage to DNA, but in the short-term freezing method, the possibility of changes in motility, health and life of chromatin (mass of genetic material of cells) is considered. Lower.
Short-term freezing time: sperms are stored in an electrolyte-free environment and often reach full equilibrium after 4 weeks with DNA fragmentation. It should be noted that this method will greatly help to increase the quality of sperms in the microinjection or DNA method.
Short-term sperm freezingFreeze dry:
This technique is known as the latest method for sperm freezing and is based on the removal of all moisture and water molecules in the semen sample. For this purpose, the semen sample must first be dried, then the temperature is reduced so that the ice turns into gas and emission is done.
Among the disadvantages of this method, we can point out the possibility of damage to the sperm membrane as a result of reducing the mobility and life of the sperm after thawing. Despite these factors, the possibility of damage to the sperm's genome and DNA decreases, as well as the inactivation of viruses, it can be easily frozen at 4 degrees and thawed at room temperature.
Scheduled Freeze:
The very short time taken in quick freezing and the very long time taken in slow freezing can be balanced by a method called programmed freezing. In this technique, the appropriate time for sperm freezing is considered to be about 40 minutes, and the freezing will proceed according to a schedule.
It is recommended to use this method only if there are many samples, in addition, the release of heat from the semen sample during their melting will affect the temperature of the freezer and delay the cooling process, and then the quality of the sperms. reduces.
Complications of sperm freezing:
Sperm freezing is a very safe method and has almost no risk for patients and babies born through sperm freezing. The only complication they consider for sperm freezing is that not all sperms can be used after the freezing stage.
Complications of sperm freezingThe success rate of sperm freezing:
The success rate of using frozen sperms is equal to the success rate of using fresh sperms, so the pregnancy rate will be equal in both cases.
Measures and care before sperm freezing:
Before taking a sample of semen, the following measures and care should be taken:
Refer to a urologist, examine and announce the reason for requesting sperm freezing
Conducting tests and tests such as AIDS, hepatitis and sperm tests
if there are possible infections in the body; Treatment and then sampling
Determining the day of semen sampling and then performing the freezing process within 1-2 days
How to get pregnant with frozen sperm:
If there is a desire to get pregnant with frozen sperms, pregnancy should be done with one of the assisted reproductive methods such as IVF, IUI or ICSI. In order to do this, the necessary treatments must be performed on the woman, among these treatments, hormone therapy can be mentioned to stimulate ovulation and egg extraction (puncture).
How to get pregnant with sperm freezingIn the next step, when fertilization is to be done, the sperms are taken out of the frozen state and after thawing, the egg and sperm fertilization takes place in the laboratory. It should be noted that if the IUI method is used, the sperm sample must be injected directly into the woman, so there is no need for experimental fertilization.
Finally, the embryos prepared in the laboratory are transferred to the mother's womb for implantation and the beginning of the embryo's growth.
compilation: The matrimonial part of the cap
