Fresh Sperm vs Frozen Sperm- What Fertility Experts Say

The subject matter of fresh sperm and frozen sperm efficiency is an important context in Assisted reproduction technology. Both sperm (fresh and frozen) are useful and generally used for IVF and ICSI all over the world. However, advancing age, deteriorating sperm quality or low quantity, and sperm donation are major reasons for freezing sperm cells.

According to Prof Oladapo Ashiru, the President of the Academy of Medicine Specialties and the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, there are no significant differences between fresh sperm and frozen sperm used for Assisted Reproductive Technology.

He went further to say that frozen sperm does not interfere with fertilization and the clinical pregnancy rates.

Although only research has been conducted on the subject matter, fresh sperm and frozen sperm, fertility experts still suggest that you can use either fresh or frozen sperm. Below are some study data from fertility experts.

Mayo Clinic

A group from Mayo Clinic Rochester in 2004 says that couples using in vitro fertilization have the same likelihood of successful pregnancy whether the sperm used is frozen or fresh.

Egypt Fertility Expert

A study from Egypt in 2021 showed that using frozen testicular sperm from men with non-obstructive azoospermia results in fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates similar to those of fresh sperm. It may encourage fertility centers to use frozen testicular sperm samples, as this policy has certain advantages that would help organize their workflow.

Fertility Expert from New York

Another study from New York in over 6,000 couples showed that using fresh compared to frozen ejaculated sperm has no impact on fresh embryo transfer cycle reproductive outcomes.

Medical Art Center Experts’ data

In a study conducted using the first fresh embryo transfer cycles at a single high-volume academic institution between 2013 and 2019 in our Medical Art Center Clinic. We observed no significant difference between frozen and fresh samples since 1994. The sperm freeze procedure freezes sperm cells to preserve them for future use.

The embryologist verifies that the sample belongs to the appropriate patient and evaluates the volume of the sample, along with the sperm concentration, motility, and progression. The sample is then placed into a tube and combined with a sperm cryopreservation media.

Once the sample is equilibrated, it is evenly distributed among pre-labeled cryopreservation vials, including a test thaw vial, and placed into a liquid nitrogen vapor, and into liquid nitrogen storage. Once the samples have been frozen, the test vial is thawed to ensure the survivability of the sperm. The process enables the sperm to be safely stored in liquid nitrogen for many years.

The procedure that makes it possible to stabilize the cells at cryogenic temperatures is called cryopreservation, an applied aspect of cryobiology or the study of life at low temperatures. Many advances in cryopreservation technology have led to the development of methods that allow for low-temperature maintenance of various cell types, including male and female gametes, tiny multicellular organisms, and even more complex organisms such as embryos.

Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa introduced in the 1960s has overcome many space and time limitations and now forms an integral part of assisted reproduction technologies.

This technique becomes important in cases of male fertility preservation before radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which may lead to testicular failure or ejaculatory dysfunction.

Semen cryostorage seems to be the only proven method that may offer these couples a chance to have future children. Cancer therapy could lead to damage, resulting in sub-fertility or sterility due to gonad removal or permanent damage to germ cells caused by adjuvant treatment.

The risk associated with therapy depends on several factors, like the patient’s age at the time of treatment, the dose, the site, and the type of treatment. Also, some non-malignant diseases, such as diabetes and autoimmune disorders, may lead to testicular damage.

Cryopreservation is also advisable in these conditions. In countries where heterologous (donor egg)) fertilization is allowed by law, and in donor insemination programs, cryopreservation is necessary to have enough time to screen donors for infectious agents, such as the HIV and hepatitis B viruses, before the cryopreserved semen is used for clinical purposes.

In azoospermic patients, who have undergone testicular sperm extraction or percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, sperm cryostorage is also used to avoid repeated biopsies or aspirations.

Furthermore, cryopreservation is routinely performed in patients who have to start ART and decide to preemptively freeze the semen sample to avoid inconveniences due to failed ejaculation often associated with ‘semen collection stress,’ certain emotional states, or other commitments at the time of oocyte retrieval.

Finally, male gamete freezing is primarily recommended to preserve fertility in those subjects who, for one reason or another, are exposed to potentially toxic agents, which may interfere with the sperm production mechanism.