Sperm Storage / Cyrobanking

In many circumstances, preserving fertility by storing your sperm—or sperm cryobanking—can be an important step toward achieving your future family goals.

At Andrology Solutions, our sperm storage service is designed to provide a safe, regulated, and compassionate solution for men facing fertility challenges.

Why Bank Your Sperm?

Sperm cryobanking offers men the chance to preserve their fertility in various situations, including:

• Diagnosis of conditions like cancer where the condition or the treatment may harm fertility
• Before taking medications that can affect fertility such as testosterone replacement therapy
• Preparation for medical procedures that may make you infertile, such as vasectomy, prostate or bladder surgery
• Ejaculatory difficulty
• Spinal cord injury
• Primary testicular failure
• Gender reassignment
• Back-up for men undergoing assisted conception treatment in cases where they have difficulty producing samples on demand or if they may be absent on the day of egg collection
• Military deployment or other extended absences
• Personal or lifestyle reasons, including age, extreme sports etc.

Our services extend to conditions that affect sperm health, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other clinical factors.

The Sperm Freezing and Storage Process

Sperm freezing at Andrology Solutions is performed in an HFEA-licensed facility, ensuring the highest standards of care. Here’s what to expect from the process:

Initial Consultation and Screening
The process begins with a thorough consultation, where our specialist explains the procedure, potential outcomes, and the best approach for your individual needs. It is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the procedure.

All patients undergo screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C to ensure safety during storage. Depending on how you anticipate using your frozen sperm, you may require additional testing.

Freezing and Thawing Process
Sperm samples are frozen by adding a cryoprotectant solution and placing the samples into liquid nitrogen. The freezing and thawing process does have a negative impact on the sperm samples, and after thawing there is usually some decline in the motility and viability of the sperm. However, the pregnancy outcome using frozen thawed sperm is no different to using fresh sperm.

Legal Considerations
Before storing your sperm, you will need to complete legal consent forms in line with HFEA regulations. Andrology Solutions ensures all documentation is clearly explained and readily accessible.

Storage Duration
By law, sperm can be stored for up to 55 years, but you may only consent to a maximum of 10 years at a time. You may renew this consent every 10 years until the maximum of 55 years is reached up to 55 years upon request.

Sample Quantity and Use in Fertility Treatment
We will recommend the most appropriate number of samples for you depending on your individual circumstances to maximise your chances of having a family. Thawed samples can be used in various assisted conception treatments, depending on sperm quality after thawing.

Costs for 2024/5

• Consultation for 45min to 60min – £200
  (£285 for storage for surrogacy)
• Mandatory blood test – £200
  (additional screening tests may be required)
• Freezing one sperm sample – £415
  (includes storage for one year)
• Freezing subsequent sperm samples – £300 each
• Annual renewal fee for 2025 – £415

Counselling and Support

We understand that fertility preservation can bring up emotional considerations. Our in-house counsellors, with many years of experience in this area, are available to support you while your samples are being stored with Andrology Solutions.

Take the first step towards preserving your fertility. Make an enquiry to discuss your options for secure sperm storage.