Semen Storage

Idant was an early innovator in the development of techniques needed to freeze semen for long-term preservation, thus revolutionizing the use of artificial insemination as a treatment for male infertility.

Reasons for Semen Banking

Semen storage should be utilized by men who face the possibility of sterilization due to testicular tumors, Hodgkin's lymphoma, or other diseases which requres chemotherapy, radiation, or such as transurethral resection and men whose occupation might subject them to high doses of chemicals or radiation - nuclear power plant workers or radiotherapists, for example - might consider preserving their semen in the event of accidental damage. In addition, semen banking should be considered :

(1) for oligospermic (low sperm count) patients, semen banking permits pooling of cryopreserved semen specimens for inseminations to increase chance of pregnancy

(2) prior to a vasectomy, IVF (in vitro fertilization), GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer) , ZIFT procedure

(3) for men whose busy working schedules conflict with spouse's schedule for starting a family; storing semen allows the wife to continue with the couple's reproductive plans.

Given the extraordinary advances in conception techniques such as IVF (in vitro fertilization) and GIFT (gamete intrafallopian transfer), even men with extremely low sperm counts can store semen for future use with the possibility of successful pregnancy.