A vasectomy is a permanent, surgical form of male birth control, intended for men who don’t want, or are finished having, children.  It works by cutting or tying off the vas deferens (the tubes that carry sperm), preventing fertilization of a female egg.  A vasectomy is one of the most effective forms of modern birth control, with a success rate of around 99%.  

Because of its permanent nature, couples should be certain about their family planning goals before opting for a vasectomy.  However, sometimes life is unpredictable and circumstances change.  Although a vasectomy can often be reversed, this is not always a guarantee, which is why some men choose to save sperm before a vasectomy by having it frozen and stored.  

In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at the steps involved in sperm freezing and storage.  

How to Save Sperm Before a Vasectomy?

Sperm freezing, or cryopreservation, is the process of collecting, freezing, and storing semen samples to preserve them for future use.  To save sperm before a vasectomy, you must visit a fertility clinic or sperm bank to have a sample frozen for long-term storage.  A professional will prepare the sample by adding a cryoprotectant solution to protect it during freezing and store it in a liquid nitrogen tank at extremely low temperatures. 

Steps for Saving Sperm

1. Find a Clinic: Contact a fertility clinic or sperm bank to learn about their sperm freezing and storage services.  You will have an initial consultation to discuss your medical history and sign legal consent forms regarding the use and storage of your samples.  You may need to undergo a physical examination and blood tests to screen for infectious diseases.
2. Semen Collection: You will be asked to provide a semen sample.  This is most commonly done in a private room at the clinic, but in some cases, you can collect your sample at home as long as it reaches the lab within a specific time frame (usually one hour) and it must be kept at room or body temperature.  It is recommended to abstain from ejaculation for two to five days before collection to ensure a high-quality semen sample.  
3. Analysis: A lab technician will analyze the sample for quality, including sperm count, motility (movement), and morphology (shape).  
4. Preparation: A special cryoprotectant solution is added to protect the sperm cells during the freezing process.
5. Freezing and Storage: The sample is divided into multiple vials, or straws, and stored in liquid nitrogen at extremely low temperatures, approximately -196 °C (-321 °F).  This extreme cold stops all biological activity, allowing the sperm to remain viable indefinitely.

Why Should I Save Sperm Before a Vasectomy?

You should save sperm before a vasectomy to create a backup plan in case you change your mind about having children later in life.  Many men wish to regain their fertility due to a remarriage or a change of heart in the original relationship.  Although vasectomies are often reversible, this is not a 100% guarantee, especially if it has been many years since the original vasectomy.  Freezing and storing sperm provides a reliable way to have biological children in the future.

Aside from vasectomy, men may choose to save sperm for other reasons, including:

• Medical Treatments: Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, or certain surgeries can impact sperm production and may cause permanent infertility.  
• Health Conditions: Some health conditions can lead to infertility or cause ejaculatory dysfunction, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis, certain infections or hormone imbalances.
• Medications: Some treatments for arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, or sickle cell disease may affect fertility. 
• Occupational Hazards: Some workplaces with high exposure to physical or chemical hazards can negatively impact fertility.
• Delayed Parenthood: Sperm quality and count naturally decline with age, so some men choose to freeze their sperm, giving them more flexibility in the future.

Freezing and storing your sperm before having a vasectomy gives you a solid backup plan in case there’s even the slightest chance you may change your mind about having biological children in the future. If you’re exploring services similar to Dermal Fillers Winnipeg searches and want trusted medical support, contact us today at the Men’s Health Clinic in Manitoba for more information.