Sperm Freezing

Choosing to freeze your sperm is the most successful method of preserving male fertility so that you can still start a family later in life.

Why choose to freeze your sperm?

Sperm freezing is a method of preserving your fertility for use in future treatment. Some men choose to freeze their sperm for medical reasons, e.g. they have been diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness which is likely to impact their reproductive organs and can prevent them from producing healthy sperm in the future. Other men may wish to consider freezing their sperm if they are about to undergo a vasectomy procedure but may change their mind in future, or they have been diagnosed with a low or a deteriorating quality of sperm.

How does it work?

Your sperm sample will need to be produced on our premises so that we can ensure it can be frozen within an hour of production to ensure minimal deterioration. The sample must be produced in a pot given to you by our staff and be labelled with your full name, date of birth and registration number. It must also be accompanied by a completed semen production form. We recommend 2-3 days abstinence (2 or 3 days since ejaculation, i.e. via sexual intercourse or masturbation) to ensure a good sample is available for collection.

Storage Regulations and Consent

The statutory length of time that sperm can be stored is for a period of 10 years, as regulated by the HFEA. This period can be extended in certain circumstances, in increments of 10 years up to a total of 55 years.