Sperm Cryopreservation
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The radiation therapy and chemotherapy that are used to treat cancer and blood disorders can sometimes cause problems with fertility, making it harder or impossible to have a baby later in life. "Fertility” means the ability to get pregnant or make somebody pregnant to have biological children. Sometimes there are things you can do before you start treatment to make having a baby more likely in the future. This is called “fertility preservation.” Your care team will talk with you about how likely it is for your treatment to affect your sperm and fertility. They can help set you up with an appointment with the fertility preservation team to discuss possible ways to preserve your fertility. One method of fertility preservation is called sperm cryopreservation or “sperm banking.” This is when you freeze and store some of your sperm. This is an option for patients who are physically and emotionally mature, typically starting about age 12. |
How are sperm collected?Usually, sperm are collected by having you ejaculate into a container. This can be done in a reproductive clinic, your hospital room, or possibly at your home. If that is not possible, patients who are near puberty (peripubertal) may be eligible for a surgical option to retrieve sperm. This is called testicular sperm extraction (TESE). |
When do I need to freeze my sperm?It is best to freeze sperm before treatment starts. There might be other times that will also work. You can talk to your care team about this. |
Where do I go?There is more than one reproductive clinic in Seattle that freezes sperm. The fertility preservation team can help you make arrangements with the clinic that is best for you. |
How much does it cost?It costs money to freeze sperm and to store it. The fertility preservation team and reproductive clinic will talk to you and your parents or caregivers about how much it will cost. They can also tell you about financial assistance that may be able to help reduce the cost. |
Where is my sperm stored?Most commonly sperm is stored at a long-term storage facility for reproductive materials called ReproTech. There may be instances where your sperm is stored at the reproductive clinic instead. |
Who can use my sperm?Only you. You can talk with the fertility preservation team more about this, but you are always in charge of your stored sperm. The reproductive clinic will also talk to you about what will happen to the sperm you have stored if anything happens to you or if you do not need it in the future. |
What happens when I am ready to use my sperm?When you are ready to build your family, you will work with a fertility specialist to determine what is best for you. You can call the long-term storage company or reproductive clinic where your sperm is stored, and they will help arrange getting your sperm. |
What are the next steps if I want to move forward?If you think you want to freeze your sperm, tell your care team. Then, you will talk to someone from the fertility preservation team who can answer your questions and help you take the needed steps to move forward. |
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