Fertility Preservation
Sperm freezing, or cryopreservation, provides a safe and reliable way to preserve your fertility - giving you flexibility, reassurance and control over your future. Whether you’re doing it for medical reasons or personal choice, it’s a straightforward and effective way to plan with confidence.
Sperm freezing, or cryopreservation, is a way of carefully preserving your sperm at extremely low temperatures so it can be used in fertility treatment in the future. Once frozen, your sperm can be safely stored for up to 55 years, as long as you continue to renew your consent every 10 years.
Using frozen sperm is just as effective as using fresh sperm in IVF and there are no additional risks. You can also store your sperm in separate portions, so you only thaw what you need, giving you flexibility and control over your treatment.*
Men choose to freeze sperm for many reasons, whether for medical or personal reasons.
Freezing sperm as a back-up allows flexibility and reduces anxiety or pressure on the day of treatment. Reasons include:
Many men freeze sperm to use in surrogacy journeys. This ensures samples meet quarantine and screening requirements.
Some men freeze sperm for donation purposes, also requiring quarantine and mandatory screening.
Sperm can be frozen prior to treatments that may affect fertility, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or gender-affirming treatment.
Some men choose sperm freezing for personal or lifestyle reasons, such as delaying parenthood.
Sperm freezing gives you the opportunity to safeguard your future choices and provides peace of mind, knowing your options are preserved.
The process is straightforward, discreet and guided by our experienced embryologists every step of the way.
Here are the initial steps:
You’ll have routine screening for infectious diseases, including HIV, HTLV, and Hepatitis B and C. You’ll also complete consent forms that explain how your samples will be stored and used, giving you full control over your fertility choices.
After an abstinence period of 2–5 days, you’ll provide a semen sample in a private, comfortable setting at the clinic. We make this part of the process as simple and relaxed as possible.
Our embryologists assess parameters such as sperm count and motility to understand how suitable your sample is for freezing. The sample is then carefully frozen using controlled-rate cryopreservation and securely stored in liquid nitrogen tanks. Depending on your results, your specialist may suggest providing additional samples to ensure you have enough sperm for future treatment options.
Your sperm can be safely stored for many years. You’ll have the option to renew or update your consent every 10 years, as required by UK law, so you always remain in control of your stored samples.
Sperm freezing may be a good option if you are:
Freezing your sperm gives you peace of mind and flexibility, allowing you to make choices about parenthood on your own terms.
Sperm Freezing Success in Numbers
Sperm freezing is a trusted and effective way to preserve fertility and support future treatment. Whether used as back-up for IVF/ICSI, part of a planned surrogacy journey, or for long-term fertility preservation, frozen sperm plays a vital role in modern fertility care.
You can explore our success rates to see the latest outcomes.
| Outcomes since 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Patients who have frozen sperm samples with us | Around 600 patients |
| Patients who returned to use their frozen sample* | 38% |
Insights for You
for planned surrogacy treatment, where quarantine and mandatory screening are required
for known sperm donation, requiring quarantine and mandatory screening similar to surrogacy pathway
for fertility preservation, including cancer diagnoses, upcoming surgery that may affect fertility, prior to gender transition, known male factor conditions, elective or social fertility preservation, or planning future surrogacy
following surgical sperm retrieval, for azoospermia and severe male factor infertility where sperm must be obtained surgically
The cost of sperm freezing can vary depending on your treatment plan and how long you wish to store your samples. Understanding what’s included can help you plan and feel confident about preserving your fertility.
The cost of sperm freezing can vary depending on your treatment plan and how long you wish to store your samples. Understanding what’s included can help you plan and feel confident about preserving your fertility.
Costs start from
We also offer flexible payment plans to help make fertility preservation more accessible.
Sperm storage and freezing is available at several clinics across the UK, making it easier for you to access high-quality fertility preservation close to home. Our clinics are designed to provide discreet, professional and supportive care every step of the way.
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Nearest clinics
When you’re ready, your stored sperm can be thawed and used in treatments such as IVF or IUI. You don’t need to use all your samples at once - sperm can remain safely in storage for future use if you wish.
Yes. According to the HFEA, IVF using frozen sperm is just as successful as IVF using fresh sperm. Freezing does not increase the risk of birth defects or reduce fertilisation rates, so you can feel confident in its effectiveness.
No - sperm cannot be safely frozen or stored at home. Successful sperm freezing requires highly controlled laboratory conditions, medical-grade cryoprotectants and storage in liquid nitrogen. Home freezing kits are not regulated and cannot maintain the correct temperature or sterility, which means sperm cells would not survive or remain viable for fertility treatment. At London Women’s Clinic, sperm freezing is carried out in accredited HFEA-licensed laboratories, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and traceability. If you’re considering preserving your sperm, our team can arrange testing and freezing discreetly and efficiently - often within days.
The earlier you preserve your sperm, the better, as younger age is linked to higher sperm quality. That said, sperm freezing can be a suitable option at most stages of adult life, giving you flexibility and peace of mind.
No. According to the HFEA, IVF outcomes using frozen sperm are just as successful as with fresh sperm, so you can feel confident in its effectiveness.
Your sperm can be safely stored for up to 55 years under UK law, as long as you renew your consent every 10 years.
Freezing your sperm is a proactive way to safeguard your future options. Whether it’s for medical, personal or practical reasons, our team is here to support you at every step, with compassion, clear guidance, and expert care.
Contact us
Stay informed about the latest seminars, webinars and workshops on fertility and Sperm Freezing.
London Women’s Clinic has long been a strong, proactive force in inclusive fertility care - welcoming patients from all backgrounds and family structures. As pioneers in LGBTQIA+ fertility since the 1990s, we’ve partnered with DIVA to support the new IVF Equality Manifesto - a call to ensure that fertility care across the UK is fair, inclusive and supportive for all. We understand that no two families are the same.
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