Sperm freezing can preserve the dream of fatherhood in the face of cancer and other illnesses

A cancer diagnosis can leave you with a lot of questions. For many people, one big question focuses on whether they can father children after cancer treatment. Our Nashville fertility clinic wants to give patients peace of mind by offering sperm freezing.

The same lifesaving medications that make it possible to live a healthy life after cancer and other diagnoses can damage fertility. Thankfully, fertility preservation for men facing cancer can help make parenthood possible later. This option can also help those who want to preserve their fertility for any other reason.

Sperm freezing is fast, easy and discrete at our clinic

Our team recommends freezing a sample before beginning cancer treatment for the best results. As such, you should call our Nashville fertility clinic as soon as you receive your diagnosis.

When you tell our staff that you have been diagnosed with cancer, we will make you an appointment as soon as possible and expedite the process for you.

Sample collection can occur in a private room at our clinic or at home. If you plan to collect at home, you should keep the specimen close to body temperature and bring it to our office within one hour of collection. When providing a sample for freezing, we suggest abstaining from ejaculation for two to five days. You should also avoid using gels or lotions during collection.

Semen analysis will occur in the lab to determine your sperm count and quality. Based on this report, your doctor will recommend how many samples you should provide for freezing.

Sperm freezing is the final step, which involves adding a special solution to protect the sperm during cryopreservation (freezing). Andrologists in the lab will divide your sample into units that contain the appropriate number of sperm for future fertility treatments. Finally, the team in the lab will freeze the sperm.

Starting or growing your family after fertility preservation for men

Once sperm is frozen, it can remain in long-term storage for as long as necessary. Our Nashville fertility clinic partners with Ovation^® Fertility for our long-term frozen storage needs.

When you are ready to pursue parenthood using your frozen sperm, Ovation will ship your sample back to us for use in fertility treatments. Depending on your needs and goals, your doctor will likely recommend either intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

You and your doctor will work together to develop your customized treatment plan. When everything is solidified, our andrologists will thaw your sperm for use in your chosen treatment cycle.

If you have questions about sperm freezing at our clinic, contact us to schedule an appointment. Our team will expedite your treatment when you let us know about your cancer diagnosis.