Sperm banking is used in a variety of different situations. Most commonly, men bank sperm because they are about to undergo treatments or take medications which may affect their sperm production.
You may want to consider cryobanking if:
- You are undergoing a treatment for cancer, which may impair your sperm production or quality (e.g. chemotherapy, radiation).
- You will be taking any ongoing medications which may impair your sperm production or quality (e.g. sulfasalazine, methotrexate).
- You will undergo any procedure which could affect your testis, prostate, or your ability to ejaculate (e.g. prostate resection, colon surgery or retroperitoneal lymph node dissection).
- You have a medical condition which is beginning to affect your ability to ejaculate (e.g. multiple sclerosis, diabetes).
- You are having a vasectomy.
- You are entering a line of work where you may be introduced to reproductive toxins.
- As part of your infertility treatment, you will be undergoing a procedure where sperm may be easily harvested (e.g. vas reconstruction, testicular biopsy). These sperm can then be stored and used later in conjunction with advanced reproductive techniques if alternative infertility treatments do not prove successful.
This list is by no means exhaustive and we encourage you to discuss the issue with your doctor.
If you are interested in banking your sperm, but would like to learn more about the process you will have to undergo in order to bank sperm, click here.
If you are seeking a sperm donation, or are a prospective donor, here is a list of sperm banks by location.
See more frequently asked questions about Sperm Banking.