CCRM FERTILITY OF NAPERVILLE
Sperm preservation in Naperville, IL
Sperm and fertility preservation for men
The Advanced Fertility Preservation Institute (AFPI) was developed with you and your future family in mind. Our cutting-edge clinic provides men the most advanced cryopreservation (preservation or freezing) treatment options to enable conception when you are ready.
Common reasons men choose to freeze their sperm
When it comes to men and fertility, a common myth is that men are able to reproduce well into their lifetime without many issues (unlike their female counterparts). It may be surprising to learn that, in fact, male fertility also declines. A significant decline in sperm number occurs after the age of 34 and the time it takes to achieve pregnancy is significantly longer after the age of 45. This decline in fertility is not as time sensitive as it is in women; however, the association clearly exists.
Following are a few reasons why men choose to freeze their sperm.
Cancer diagnosis and treatment
For men, the most important reason to preserve their semen is because of medical issues, particularly cancer.
Cancers of the endocrine glands or endocrine-related organs may impair the hormones that stimulate puberty and fertility.
Surgery that requires removal of the affected area, including the prostate (which makes semen), bladder, one or both testicles or the pelvic lymph nodes, may compromise fertility. Damage to the pelvic nerves and vasculature (blood vessels) during surgery may also effect fertility as well.
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation may damage sperm, inhibit the ability to make new sperm or stop the production of semen.
Learn more about how we help newly diagnosed cancer patients preserve their fertility:
Vasectomy
Men who are about to undergo a vasectomy may wish to store sperm as an added insurance to prevent future fertility treatments either to reverse the vasectomy or extract sperm if pregnancy is desired in the future.
Further reason
Additional medical conditions or treatment thereof, and environmental issues in the workplace may lead to a deterioration of sperm quality over time – numbers, movement or structure may cause erectile dysfunction and/or ejaculatory distrubance.
By preserving your fertility before degradation of sperm is noted, you will have the best opportunity to have the family that you and your partner desire.
What to expect: sperm preservation
Luckily for men, the process for freezing sperm is less invasive on the body and is not as demanding in dollars and time as it is for women.
1. Consultation
You will first meet with our Fertility Preservation Coordinator (FPC) to evaluate your medical history, perform a semen analysis and ultimately determine eligibility in our sperm cryopreservation program.
2. Testing
During a semen analysis, sperm will be evaluated based on volume and viscosity of semen and sperm count, motility, swimming speed and shape.
3. Sperm collection, evaluation and storage
Once you are ready to preserve your sperm, the procedure itself is quite simple. An appointment will be arranged to preserve the sperm. If your residence is within 30 minutes of the office, sperm collection can be performed in the privacy of your home. However, most of our male patients choose to come to our office, where a private semen collection room is at your disposal.
Semen must be collected through masturbation after abstinence of 3-5 days. Sperm will then be evaluated and results will be communicated to you.
Adequate sperm will be separated and cryopreserved in subzero temperatures. Immediately after they are frozen, your sperm will be placed into one of our liquid nitrogen storage containers for safe-keeping.
At the Advanced Fertility Preservation Institute, we provide storage for our patients to give them peace of mind during this process. Our state-of-the-art facility is licensed for preservation by the State of Illinois and has all of the proper technology in place to assure the safe, long-term preservation of your sperm.
If you plan on freezing embryos, you will provide a sample at the time of your partner’s egg retrieval (see female egg preservation). The sperm will be used to fertilize the extracted, matured eggs. Embryos will also undergo the same analysis and will be stored in the facility. In our facility, we have had success using embryos preserved for nearly 15 years.
4. Pregnancy
Once you are ready to move forward with pregnancy, please call Dr. Miller’s office at (630) 428-2229 and the staff can walk you through this next part of the journey.
Sperm preservation cost
Although sperm preservation may be a good option for you, it is important to understand the costs associated with collection and storage. Across the board, insurance carriers do not typically cover sperm cryopreservation. Please check with your insurance provider for specific policy coverage.
As part of your initial evaluation, it is important that you review everything carefully and discuss any questions you may have with our financial counselor. Although we believe it is vital to provide you with current pricing, it is impossible to provide you with an exact cost, as each patient has a treatment cycle that is tailored to meet his needs.
What are the overall cost estimates of sperm preservation?
| Sperm Cryopreservation | $250.00 |
| Sperm/Semen storage 1 year | $200.00 |
| Specimen handling fee | $50.00 |
| TOTAL | $500.00 |
All costs are estimated and not guaranteed; type and number of tests/procedures may vary due to individual outcomes. Fees quoted are for sperm preservation cycle only and not for any preceding diagnostic tests.
Financing
Prosper Healthcare Lending
Prosper Healthcare Lending is the premier financing company in the healthcare industry. Prosper offers our patients affordable payment plans through their simple online approval system and is 100% confidential.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) for men undergoing sperm preservation
This page is meant to be educational only, and is not meant to give any advice. For personalized advice, please make an appointment with our Fertility Preservation Coordinator (FPC).
What is sperm preservation?
Sperm preservation is an option for men who are concerned about decreased fertility. It uses advanced technology that allows you to freeze and store your sperm in subzero temperatures. Later, when you are ready for children, the sperm can be thawed and used to fertilize an egg that will be transferred to the uterus for development and subsequent pregnancy.
Who should consider sperm freezing?
Sperm preservation is a technology that has helped many different men for a number of reasons and is particularly beneficial for the following reasons:
- Like their female counterparts, male fertility also declines. However, the rate at which male fertility declines is not as time sensitive as that in women.
- Cancer treatment or other medical treatments that may affect fertility
- A voluntary decision to undergo a vasectomy, with the option to have kids later on
- Medical conditions or treatment thereof, and environmental issues in the workplace may lead to a deterioration of sperm quality over time — numbers, movement or structure — or may cause erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory disturbance
How do I know if I am a candidate?
Regardless of the reason you would like to preserve your sperm, it is worthwhile to find out more about our program and explore your options by scheduling a free consultation with our FPC. The next step would be to consult with our FPC to evaluate your medical history, perform a semen analysis and ultimately determine eligibility in our sperm preservation program.
How does the process work?
Semen must be collected through masturbation after abstinence of 3-5 days. Once you are ready to preserve your sperm, the procedure itself is quite simple. An appointment will be arranged to preserve the sperm. Once collected, the sperm will be evaluated, preserved and stored in subzero temperatures until you are ready to proceed with pregnancy.* At that point, the sperm is thawed and used to fertilize an egg, which is then transferred to the uterus as an embryo (once the egg is fertilized by the sperm the product is referred to as an embryo).
*Should you have a partner and wish to freeze embryos you may do so. Please alert the FPC during your consultation.
Can I freeze my sperm and send it by mail or do I have to come to the clinic?
If your residence is within 30 minutes of the office, sperm collection can be performed in the privacy of your home. However, most of our male patients choose to come to our office, where a private semen collection room is at your disposal.
Is sperm preservation safe for the baby?
Yes, sperm preservation is safe for the baby. There appears to be no increased risk of birth defects with cryopreserved sperm.
Where will the sperm be stored?
Immediately after they are frozen, your sperm will be placed into one of our liquid nitrogen storage containers for safe-keeping. At the Advanced Fertility Preservation Institute, we provide long-term storage for our patients to give them peace of mind during this process. Our state-of-the-art facility is licensed for cryopreservation by the State of Illinois and has all of the proper technology in place to assure the safe cryopreservation of your sperm.
How long can sperm remain frozen and still be effective?
Once sperm has been frozen, no time limit has been established.
How long can you store my frozen sperm?
Frozen sperm can be stored indefinitely and remain viable. However, every instance is unique and the amount of viable sperm may vary from person to person.
What is the success rate of sperm preservation to fertilization to pregnancy?
Research demonstrates sperm preservation yields high rates of pregnancy. In fact, specifically for cancer patients, preserved sperm resulted in live births for 49% of patients.
How many sperm samples should I store?
We recommend storing at least three samples separated by 48 hours of abstinence. If you are freezing due to an upcoming medical treatment we would need to have the sample taken prior to chemotherapy treatment or surgery. If you have time for one specimen, you are encouraged to bank your sperm because each specimen is divided into vials and may be used for multiple fertility procedures. The FPC will collaborate with the patient and additional medical teams to discuss timing and available options.
Will preserving my sperm diminish my ability to produce sperm naturally?
Post ejaculation, sperm counts return to normal within 48 hours. Therefore, sperm preservation will have no long term effect on sperm production.
Are there any other tests required besides the sperm analysis once collected?
If problems are noted with the semen analysis (i.e. volume, count, sperm movement, or the structure of the sperm), further testing and perhaps evaluation with a male reproductive specialist (andrologist) may be required.
What are my options for unused sperm?
Unused sperm can be discarded or used for research. These options can be discussed with the FPC.
What do I do when I am ready to have children?
When you are ready to have children, please contact Dr. Miller’s office and our team will discuss next steps with you.
Is the procedure covered by my insurance?
Although sperm preservation may be a good option for you, it is important to understand the costs associated with collection and storage. Across the board, insurance carriers do not typically cover sperm cryopreservation. Please check with your insurance provider for specific policy coverage.
CCRM Fertility of Naperville
120 Pam Davis Dr, Suite 100
Naperville, IL 60540
Phone: (630) 428-2229
Fax: (630) 428-0336
Hours
Monday-Thursday: 6:00am – 4:00pm
Friday: 6:00am – 3:00pm
Saturday: 6:00am – 10:30am
Sunday: Procedures by Appointment Only