• Surrogacy Ana Obregón's legal troubles to register her granddaughter as a daughter in Spain
  • Health The other cases Ana Obregón: 'resurrecting' a dead child through the conception of a grandchild

Semen cryopreservation is an assisted reproduction technique that has been performed for many years, but the recent birth of the daughter-granddaughter of the media Ana Obregón has made it more topical than ever. Especially now that he has told a magazine thatthe sperm contributed were from his son, and that he had wanted to keep them frozen before he died. A process carried out daily by hundreds of people around the world.

In what cases is sperm frozen?

Any man who wishes can resort to this technique, but it is especially recommended in the following cases:

-Patients who are going to undergo medical treatments that may affect their fertility, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It is imperative that the sample is taken before starting treatment.

-Patients who wish to have a vasectomy but want to keep samples of their sperm in case in the future they decide to have a child.

-Men who are exposed to dangerous situations because of their work, such as soldiers stationed in war zones.

-If on the day of the follicular puncture the man will not be present at the assisted reproduction clinic and therefore will not be able to provide a fresh sample.

Is sperm quality altered?

No, freezing hardly affects sperm quality. Chromosomes are not altered or DNA fragmented, and sperm count and morphology do not vary. It only decreases its mobility by about 10% due to the freezing and thawing process.

How long can frozen samples be kept?

There is no time limit for an individual who decides to freeze their semen for their own use, since the quality of the sperm does not worsen even if it is cryopreserved for long periods. There are documented cases in which 20 years after having frozen the samples they were able to use them and be parents without problem.

In the case of donors, after five years the sample is discarded from the sperm bank.

How is the process done?

The semen sample must be extracted in the clinic itself, and once received, the first thing that will be done is a seminogram, that is, a basic semen study to determine its quality: count, morphology and mobility.

Cryoprotectant substances are then added to the sample so that the sperm survive freezing, and once this is done it is divided into straws of 0.5 cc capacity. This will allow small samples to be thawed individually in the future.

The next step is to gradually decrease the temperature until it reaches -196ºC, the temperature of liquid nitrogen, an element where it will be preserved as long as necessary.

How many children can you have with a sample?

If the seminal quality is good, with the frozen sample of an ejaculation it is possible to perform between six and eight in vitro fertilization treatments. If these treatments are successful, you could be a father of a large family without problem.

Can samples be transported to another country?

From the medical point of view there is no problem, as long as they are kept at -196ºC throughout the trip and the container is transported with care.

Is sperm freezing covered by Social Security?

In the case of patients who are going to undergo medical treatments that may affect their fertility, yes. Both in men for sperm freezing and in women for egg freezing.

If I do it privately, how much does it cost?

The final price ranges between € 350 and € 400. This includes a basic study of the semen and cryopreservation of the samples over a period of time that is usually two years. After this time, an amount must be paid to extend the conservation of the samples.

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