Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Andrology pp 505–520Cite as

Cryopreservation of Human Spermatozoa

  • Chapter

Abstract

This chapter provides a review of the present state of technology, practicability and limits of cryopreserva-tion of human spermatozoa. Its aim is to encourage physicians and health care providers to consider the needs of a patient's quality of life with respect to his family planning and fertility on a long-term basis and to include these topics when counselling the patient and planning therapy. Sperm cryopreservation is an important part of the work of many semen analysis laboratories, particularly those associated with infertility clinics. Spermatozoa may be stored for a variety of reasons and some of these may require modifications of the cryopreservation procedure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alvarez JG, Storey BT (1993) Evidence that membrane stress contributes more than lipid peroxidation to sublethal cryo-damage in cryopreserved human sperm: Glycerol and other polyols as sole cryoprotectant. J Androl 14:199–208

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Fertility Society (1990) New guidelines for the use of semen donor insemination. Fertil Steril (Suppl 1):1S–13S

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahadur G, Ralph D (1999) Gonadal tissue cryopreservation in boys with paediatric cancers. Hum Reprod 14:11–17

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belker AM, Bergamini DA (1997) The feasibility of cryopreser-vation of sperm harvested intraoperatively during vasectomy reversals. J Urol 157:1292–1294

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • British Andrology Society Guidelines for the Screening of Semen Donors for Donor Insemination (1999) Hum Reprod 14:1823–1826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (1992) Guidelines for Therapeutic Donor Insemination, 2nd edn (CFAS Montreal). http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/brgtherap/applic-demande/guides/semen-sperme-acces/semen-sperme_ directive_e.html

  • Chan SYW, Pearlstone A, Uhler M, et al (1993) Human sperma-tozoal tail hypo-osmotic swelling test, motility characteristics in hypotonic saline, and survival of spermatozoa after cryopreservation. Hum Reprod 8:717–721

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chung PH, Yeko TR, Mayer JC, et al (1995) Assisted fertility using electroejaculation in men with spinal cord injury - a review of literature. Fertil Steril 64:1–9

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke GN (1999) Sperm cryopreservation: Is there a significant risk of cross-contamination? Hum Reprod 14:2941–2943

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke GN, Liu Y, Baker HW (2003) Improved sperm cryo-preservation using cold cryoprotectant. Reprod Fertil Develop 15:377–381

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke GN, Liu DY, Baker HWG (2006) Recovery of human sperm motility and ability to interact with the human zona pellucida after more than 28 years of storage in liquid nitrogen. Fertil Steril 86:721–722

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colpi GM, Colpi EM, Piediferro G, Giacchetta D, Gazzano G, Castiglioni FM, Magli MC, Gianaroli L (2009) Microsurgical TESE versus conventional TESE for ICSI in non-obstructive azoospermia: a randomized controlled study. Reprod Biomed Online. 18:315–319

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper TG, Neuwinger J, Bahrs S, et al (1992) Internal quality control of semen analysis. Fertil Steril 58:172–177

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Craft I, Tsirigotis M (1995) Debates: Simplified recovery, preparation and cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa. Hum Reprod 10:1623–1627

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Geyter C, De Geyter M, Schneider HPG, et al (1992) Subnormal sperm parameters in conventional semen analysis are associated with discrepancies between fertilization and pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Int J Androl 15:485–491

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Devroey P, Liu J, Nagy Z, et al (1995) Pregnancies after test-icular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in non-obstructive azoospermia. Hum Reprod 10:1457–1460

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Djerassi C, Leibo SP (1994) A new look at male contraception. Nature 370:11–12

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds L, Marrett LD, Tomkins DJ, et al (1993) Case-control study of congenital anomalies in children of cancer patients. Br Med J 307:164–168

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Edge B, Holmes D, Makin G (2006) Sperm banking in adolescent cancer patients. Arch Dis Child 91:149–152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • ESHRE (2004) Task Force on Ethics and Law. Taskforce 7: Ethical considerations for the cryopreservation of gametes and reproductive tissues for self use. Hum Reprod 19:460–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EU Regulations on Cryoconservation of Germ Cells. Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union. Richtlinie 2006/17/EG der Kommission

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldschuh J, Brassel J, Durso N, et al (2005) Successful sperm storage for 28 years. Fertil Steril 84:1017

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fertility Society of Australia. http://www.fsa.au.com/rtac/

  • Friedler S, Raziel A, Soffer Y, et al (1997) Intracytoplasmic injection of fresh and cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia—a comparative study. Fertil Steril 68:892–897

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao D, Mazur P, Critser JK (1997) Fundamental cryobiology of mammalian spermatozoa. In: Karow AM, Critser JK (eds) Reproductive tissue banking. Academic, San Diego, CA, pp 263–328

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Genescà A, Benet J, Caballín MR, et al (1990) Signicance of structural chromosome aberrations in human sperm: Analysis of induced aberrations. Hum Genet 85:495–499

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilling-Smith C, Emiliani S, Almeida P, et al (2005) Laboratory safety during assisted reproduction in patients with blood-borne viruses. Hum Reprod 20:1433–1438

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammerstedt RH, Graham JK, Nolan JP (1990) Cryopreservation of mammalian sperm: What we ask them to survive. J Androl 11:73–88

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen P V, Glavind K, Panduro J, et al (1991) Paternity in patients with testicular germ cell cancer: pretreatment and post-treatment findings. Eur J Cancer 27:1385–1389

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holland-Moritz H, Krause W (1990) Inanspruchnahme von Sperma-Kryodepots bei Tumorpatienten. Hautarzt 41:204–206

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isachenko E, Isachenko V, Katkov II, Rahimi G, Schöndorf T, Mallmann P, Dessole S, Nawroth F (2004a) DNA integrity and motility of human spermatozoa after standard slow freezing versus cryoprotectant-free vitrification. Hum Reprod 19:932–939

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isachenko V, Isachenko E, Katkov II, et al (2004b) Cryoprotectant-free cryopreservation of human spermatozoa by vitri cation and freezing in vapor: Effect on motility, DNA integrity, and fertilization ability. Biol Reprod 71:1167–1173

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Isachenko V, Isachenko E, Montag M, et al (2005) Clean technique for cryoprotectant-free vitrification of human spermatozoa. Reprod BioMed Online 10:350–354

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jalbert P, Leonard C, Selva J, et al (1989) Genetic aspects of arti cial insemination with donor semen: The French CECOS Federation guidelines. Am J Med Gen 33:269–275

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jezek D, Knuth UA, Schulze W (1998) Successful testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in spite of high serum follicle stimulating hormone and azoospermia: Correlation between tes-ticular morphology, TESE results, semen analysis and serum hormone values in 103 infertile men. Hum Reprod 13:1230–1234

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamischke A, Nieschlag E (1999) Treatment of retrograde ejaculation and anejaculation. Hum Reprod Update 5:448–474

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamischke A, Kuhlmann M, Weinbauer GF, et al (2003) Gonadal protection from radiation by GnRH antagonist or rhFSH: A controlled trial in the male nonhuman primate. J Endocrinol 179:183–194

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamischke A, Jürgens H, Hertle L, Berdel WE, Nieschlag E (2004) Cryopreservation of semen from adolescents and adults with malignancies. J Androl 25:586–592

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keck C, Nieschlag E (1993) Kryokonservierung von Spermien als Zeugungsreserve für onkologische Patienten. Internist 34:775–780

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keel BA, Webster BW (1993) Semen cryopreservation methodology and results In: Barratt CLR, Cooke ID (eds) Donor insemination. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 71–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliesch S, Behre HM, Jürgens H, et al (1996) Cryopreservation of semen from adolescent patients with malignancies. Med Ped Oncol 26:20–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Köhn FM, Schill WB (1988) Kryospermabank München—Zwischenbilanz 1974–1986. Hautarzt 39:91–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kolettis PN, Fretz P, Burns JR, et al (2005) Secondary azoo-spermia after vasovasostomy. Urology 65:968–971

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krause W (2007) Procreation by means of cryopreserved spermatozoa from tumor patients. J Reprod Med Endocrinol 4:9–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Lass A, Akagbosu F, Abusheikha N, et al (1998) A programme of semen cryopreservation for patients with malignant disease in a tertiary infertility centre: Lessons from 8 years' experience. Hum Reprod 13:3256–3261

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leibo SP, Picton HM, Gosden RG (2002) Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa. In: Vayena E, Rowe PJ, Griffin PD (eds) Current practices and controversies in assisted reproduction. World Health Organization, Geneva, pp 152–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Lannou D, Lansac J (1993) Artificial procreation with frozen donor semen: The French experience of CECOS. In: Barratt CLR, Cooke ID (eds) Donor insemination. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 152–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercan R, Urman B, Alatas C, Aksoy S, Nuhoglu A, Isiklar A, Balanban B (2000) Outcome of testicular sperm retrievel procedures in non-obstructive azoospermia: percutaneous aspiration versus oprn biopsy. Hum Reprod 15:1548–1551

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meseguer M, Molina N, Garcia-Velasco JA, et al (2006) Sperm cryopreservation in oncological patients: a 14-year follow-up study. Fertil Steril 85:640–645

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morris GJ, Acton E, Avery S (1999) A novel approach to sperm cryopreservation. Hum Reprod 14:1013–1021

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer D (2004) Current and future concepts and practices in human sperm cryobanking. Reprod Biomed Online 9:134–151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Naysmith TE, Blake DA, Harvey VJ et al (1998) Do men undergoing sterilizing cancer treatment have a fertile future? Hum Reprod 13:3250–3255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuwinger J, Behre HM, Nieschlag E (1990) External quality control in the andrology laboratory: an experimental multicenter trial. Fertil Steril 54:308–314

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palermo G, Joris H, Devroey P, et al (1992) Pregnancies after intracytoplasmatic injection of single spermatozoon into an oocyte. Lancet 340:17–18

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palermo GD, Schlegel PN, Hariprashad JJ, et al (1999) Fertilization and pregnancy outcome with intracytoplasmic sperm injection for azoospermic men. Hum Reprod 14:741–748

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palmieri G, Lotrecchiano G, Ricci G, et al (1996) Gonadal function after multimodality treatment in men with testicular germ cell cancer. Eur J Endocrinol 134:431–436

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Péréz-Sanchez F, Cooper TG, Yeung CH, Nieschlag E (1994) Improvement in quality of cryopreserved human spermatozoa by swim-up before freezing. Int J Androl 17:115–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polge C, Smith AU, Parkes AS (1949) Revival of spermatozoa after vitrification and dehydration at low temperatures. Nature 164:626–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (2006) Vasectomy reversal. Fertil Steril 86: S268–S271

    Google Scholar 

  • Rousseaux S, Sèle B, Cozzi J, et al (1993) Immediate rearrangement of human sperm chromosomes following in-vivo irradiation. Hum Reprod 8:903–907

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rufat P, Olivennes F, de Mouzon J, et al (1994) Task force report on the outcome of pregnancies and children conceived by in vitro fertilization (France: 1987 to 1989). Fertil Steril 61:324–330

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saito K, Suzuki K, Iwasaki A, Yumura Y, Kubota Y (2005) Sperm cryopreservation before cancer chemotherapy helps in the emotional battle against cancer. Cancer 104:521–524

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanger WG, Olson JH, Sherman JK (1992) Semen cryobanking for men with cancer—criteria change. Fertil Steril 58:1024–1027

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schenker JG, Ezra Y (1994) Complications of assisted reproductive techniques. Fertil Steril 61:411–422

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schlatt S, Rosiepen G, Weinbauer GF, et al (1999) Germ cell transfer into rat, bovine, monkey and human testes. Hum Reprod 14:144–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt KL, Larsen E, Bangsboll S, et al (2004) Assisted reproduction in male cancer survivors: fertility treatment and outcome in 67 couples. Hum Reprod 19:2806–2810

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schrader M, Müller M, Sofikitis N, Straub B, Miller K (2003) “Onco-tese”: Testicular sperm extraction in azoospermic cancer patients before chemotherapy—new guidelines? Urology 61:421–425

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherman JK (1986) Current status of clinical cryobanking of human semen. In: Paulson JD et al (eds) Andrology. Academic, Orlando, pp 517–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, JK (1990) Cryopreservation of human semen. In: Keel BA, Webster BW (eds) CRC handbook of the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of infertility. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, pp 229–259

    Google Scholar 

  • Shufaro Y, Prus D, Laufer N, Simon A (2002) Impact of repeated testicular ne needles aspirations (TEFNA) and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) on the microscopic morphology of the testis: An animal model. Hum Reprod 17:1795–1799

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silber SJ, Van Steirteghem AC, Liu J, et al (1995) High fertilization and pregnancy rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with spermatozoa obtained from testicle biopsy. Hum Reprod 10:148–152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith KD, Steinberger E (1973) Survival of spermatozoa in a human sperm bank. J Am Med Ass 223:774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tedder RS, Zuckerman MA, Goldstone AH, et al (1995) Hepatitis B transmission from contaminated cryopreserva-tion tank. Lancet 346:137–140

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tomlinson M. (2005) Managing risk associated with cryopreser-vation. Hum Reprod 20:1751–1756

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trottmann M, Becker AJ, Stadler T, et al (2007) Semen quality in men with malignant diseases before and after therapy and the role of cryopreservation. Eur Urol 52:355–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verheyen G, Pletincx I, Van Steirteghem A (1993) Effect of freezing method, thawing temperature and post-thaw dilution/ washing on motility (CASA) and morphology characteristics of high-quality human sperm. Hum Reprod 8:1678–1684

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Viviani S, Ragni G, Santoro A, et al (1991) Testicular dysfunction in Hodgkin's disease before and after treatment. Eur J Cancer 27:1389–1392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Sikka SC, Veeraragavan K, et al (1993) Platelet activating factor and pentoxifylline as human sperm cryopro-tectants. Fertil Steril 60:711–715

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watson PF (1995) Recent developments and concepts in the cryopreservation of spermatozoa and the assessment of their post-thawing function. Reprod Fertil Develop 7:871–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson PF, Critser JK, Mazur P (1992) Sperm preservation: fundamental cryobiology and practical implications. In: Templeton AA, Drife JO (eds) Infertility. Springer Verlag, New York/London/Heidelberg, pp 101–114

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2009) Laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. WHO, Geneva, (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf DP (1995) Semen cryopreservation. In: Keye WR, Chang RJ, Rebar RW et al (eds) Infertility evaluation and treatment. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA, pp 686–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods EJ, Benson JD, Agca Y, et al (2004) Fundamental cryobi-ology of reproductive cells and tissues. Cryobiology 48:146–156

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Domagkstrasse 11, Münster, 48149, Germany

    Sabine Kliesch, Trevor G Cooper & Eberhard Nieschlag

  2. University Women’s Hospital Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, Lübeck, 23538, Germany

    Axel Kamischke

Authors
  1. Sabine Kliesch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Axel Kamischke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Trevor G Cooper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eberhard Nieschlag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sabine Kliesch .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Domagkstr. 11, Mönster, 48149, Germany

    Eberhard Nieschlag  & Susan Nieschlag  & 

  2. Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology of the University, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, Halle/Saale, 06120, Germany

    Hermann M. Behre

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kliesch, S., Kamischke, A., Cooper, T.G., Nieschlag, E. (2010). Cryopreservation of Human Spermatozoa. In: Nieschlag, E., Behre, H.M., Nieschlag, S. (eds) Andrology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78355-8_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-78355-8_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-78354-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-78355-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation