February 26th, 2015
Also known as semen storage or sperm cryopreservation, sperm banking is a form of collection and storage of semen. Sperm banks are specialized facilities that store human sperm from donors. The stored semen can then be used for achieving pregnancies through the process of artificial insemination. Sperm banks also benefit single women, lesbian couples, and women with infertile male partners.
Women who are not able to conceive due to certain circumstances have a higher chance of having their own children by using sperm banks. Some people struggle with decreased fertility, sterility, or other causes that make it difficult for them to conceive.
Cryobanks are specially designed facilities to collect and store semen and offer solutions to male infertility. Such sperm banks also offer andrology laboratory services, which may include frozen donor sperm services, semen analysis, and short-and long-term sperm storage.
Short-term cyrobanking involves storing, freezing of semen for less than a year. The semen can be used for fertility treatment procedures, such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination.
Long-term semen cryopreservation uses time-tested techniques to store and freeze semen specimens and embryos for an indefinite time in liquid nitrogen. The semen specimens can then be thawed for use later as per the donor’s wish. The semen can be used for conception through fertility treatment techniques.
The preservation technique involves mixing the semen specimen with a special solution that protects it during freezing and thawing processes. The semen samples are placed in unique cyro coded plastic vials and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. The vials are then immersed in liquid nitrogen solution in secure tanks. The nitrogen solution is regularly checked and each sample is processed individually by licensed clinical lab scientists.