Sperm Freezing

Sperm freezing is a great option for men wishing to preserve their fertility. Sperm can be stored for long periods of time and then thawed for an insemination or IVF technique.

You may consider freezing your sperm if you:

• are about to start chemotherapy or radiotherapy that may impair your fertility
• have a very low sperm count that might fall to zero over time
• are about to have a surgery or a vasectomy
• are considering undergoing gender-affirming intervention
• are completing IUI or IVF treatment and can’t produce fresh samples during treatment

Monash IVF offers sperm freezing at all of our clinics across Australia. Before making an appointment, you'll need a referral letter from your GP or fertility specialist. To book an appointment for sperm freezing, contact your local Monash IVF clinic.

There are a few things to keep in mind when producing your sperm sample.

Before producing your sample, we recommend you don’t have sex or ejaculate for at least two days—but no more than seven days - prior.

It is recommended that you produce your sample in a private andrology suite in one of our clinics, however arrangements can be made to produce your sample at home if this is what you prefer.

If you’re producing your sample at home, you’ll need to bring it to the laboratory within one hour. This is really important. After producing, the sample should not be exposed to extreme temperature (heat or cold) and is best kept at room temperature. You'll still need an appointment if you produce your sample from home so our laboratory knows that you are attending that day. In addition, the semen collection container needs to be provided by our laboratory, as we use specialised containers that are safe for sperm. You will need to organise to collect a specialised container from the laboratory prior to producing at home.

For some people, masturbation isn’t possible for medical, social, cultural or religious reasons. In this case, talk to your local laboratory about getting a special condom so you can produce your sample via intercourse.

Scientifically, there’s no limit on how long sperm can be frozen. But the time can vary depending on state regulations.