Sperm freezing

Preserving your sperm for future use

Sperm freezing is a process to preserve your sperm for future use.

Once you produce a sample, our andrology team will perform a semen analysis to assess the volume, concentration, motility, morphology and pH of your sperm. The sample is then prepared and frozen on site in cryopreservation tanks.

Costs and storage

Sperm freezing is charged per sample, and the fee includes your first year of storage. After that, there is a yearly storage fee for frozen samples. Your care team will share current fees with you.

What do I need to do before freezing my sperm?

You must have an up-to-date infectious diseases screen (valid for 6 months) on file. The Care Navigator will tell you if blood work needs to be updated.

These tests must be completed before you can book your sperm freezing appointment:

  • Hepatitis B surface antigen
  • Hepatitis C marker
  • Syphilis
  • HIV
  • HTLV 1/2 antibody
  • HIV 1/2 antibody
  • Hepatitis B antibody
  • Hepatitis C antibody
  • CMV total (IgG and IgM)
  • West Nile virus
  • Chlamydia (NAT)
  • Gonorrhea (NAT)

Turnaround time for these results: 2–3 weeks.

Signed consent: you must sign the sperm freezing consent. It will be sent to you separately to sign electronically.

How do I book sperm freezing?

Once we have confirmed the tests above are completed and received, you will be asked to book your sperm freezing appointment through your patient app.

Select the Sperm Freezing (Cryo) milestone to book your appointment. You will be prompted to pay before booking.

If your physician orders additional sperm freezing, the Care Navigator will let you know. Additional appointments are paid for and booked through your patient app.

Semen sample collection

All semen samples for sperm freezing must be collected on-site at the clinic.

  1. You must book a semen sample collection appointment through your patient app. If there is no appointment in place, we will not accept your sample. Appointments are available Monday to Friday, between 10:30 and 11:30 am and from 1:30 to 2 pm only.
  2. Semen samples will not be accepted if dropped off by your female partner.
  3. Please bring government-issued photo ID, such as a health card, passport or driver’s licence. This will be used to verify your identity.
  4. The sample should be collected after a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 7–10 days of sexual abstinence.
  5. When you arrive, the andrologist will verify your ID. You will be taken to a semen collection room and given a container. The specimen must be collected by masturbation directly into the container. Avoid lubricants, as they are toxic to sperm. It is important to collect the entire specimen, and it is critical that you tell the lab if any of the semen was lost.
  6. Once your test results are in, your physician will review them and the results will be shared with you.