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Who needs sperm storage services?

Several situations exist where sperm storage is an option:

1. You are a purchasing donor sperm from our donor registry and want to store specimens for future use. View our Vial Buy & Store page for more information.

2. You need to store your own sperm due to medical or social issues. View our Sperm Storage page for more information. Active Duty Military receive the first year of storage free.

3. You want to use a directed (known) donor and want to store his semen for future use. View our Directed Donor page for more information.

What is involved in storing your own sperm?

Patients desiring our services should call 1-800-338-8407 for information. We are able to schedule all patient appointments within 1 to 3 days of the initial call. Each individual sperm sample is evaluated prior to freezing and a small aliquot is analyzed after freezing for survivability. This allows the laboratory to provide the patient with detailed information concerning the potential use of his cryopreserved sperm samples. Many assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for fertilization purposes are available today including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). These technologies allow for the use of a wide range of sperm samples for the purpose of future fertilization and pregnancy. Very importantly, even one correctly preserved sample contains sufficient sperm for numerous ICSI and IVF treatments with generally a high likelihood of successful pregnancy attainment.

All semen specimens are stored at -196^o C in liquid nitrogen tanks equipped with automatic fill devices and alarm systems. Fairfax Cryobank also provides liquid nitrogen transport tanks for shipping patient specimens to their physician or health care provider when requested for use.

Do you offer sperm banking by mail?

Fairfax Cryobank is proud to offer Priority Male (TM) overnight collection kit in association with Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc of Roseville, MN.  Priority Male offers men the opportunity to cryopreserve their semen specimens prior to medical treatment, even if they are unable to travel to a sperm bank.

How long can you store frozen sperm?

Cryopreserved specimens, when properly stored, will remain viable for an indefinite amount of time. Pregnancies have been reported for cases in which the sperm has been stored for 20 years prior to thawing and insemination.

Is the freezing process harmful to the sperm cells?

Approximately 50% or more of the sperm cells survive the freezing/thawing process. The fertilization capability of the surviving sperm cells is not jeopardized during the freezing/thawing process.