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 banking should be utilized by men who face the possibility of sterilization due to the following:
- testicular tumors
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- diseases that require chemotherapy or radiation
- transurethral resection
- occupation where there exists the possibility of being subject to high doses of chemicals or radiation (e.g., nuclear power plant workers, radiotherapists)
In addition, semen banking should be considered
- for oligospermic (i.e., low sperm count) patients; semen banking permits the pooling of cryopreserved semen specimens for inseminations to increase the chance of pregnancy
- for men whose busy working schedules conflict with their spouses' schedule for starting a family; storing semen allows the wife to continue with the couple's reproductive plans
- prior to a vasectomy, in vitro fertilization (IVF), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), or zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)
Given the extraordinary advances in conception techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT), even men with extremely low sperm counts can store semen for future use with the possibility of a successful pregnancy.