A vasectomy is a form of permanent sterilization. It is a procedure that involves the removal of a piece of the vas deferens to prevent sperm from reaching the ejaculate. There are many benefits to choosing a vasectomy as a form of birth control. It is one single procedure that has a brief recovery period and then it’s over with. No one has to take hormones or worry about implants.
The downside is the fact that it’s permanent. Reversal is possible, but it is not guaranteed to result in pregnancy. It is also very expensive and not covered by insurance. Additionally, SO many things can happen in life. You could simply change your mind. Your relationship situation could change. Maybe you just want to keep your options open. It is never a bad idea to be prepared for the future and one of the ways you can do that is to bank your sperm.
Understanding Sperm Banking
First things first, let’s talk sperm banking! Sperm banking is pretty much exactly what it sounds like–storing your sperm in a freezer until you are ready to use it (or not).
Collection: The collection process will either be done at the facility or in the privacy of your own home, depending on the requirements of the facility or company you use. If you do a home collection, you may be required to drop the sample off within a specified time-frame
Freezing: Most facilities will test the semen and evaluate for quality sperm. They will be divided across multiple vials, and then gradually frozen to their storing temperature which is -196C or -321F.
Storing: The samples will be permanently stored for as long as you need. Most facilities have monthly or yearly storage fees in addition to the up-front sperm banking fee.
Why Consider Sperm Banking Before a Vasectomy?
A vasectomy is considered a permanent procedure. As mentioned above, it is possible to reverse a vasectomy but that is costly, a more invasive procedure than the vasectomy, and not guaranteed to result in pregnancy (even if the tubes are adequately reconnected).
Sperm banking prior to your vasectomy would act as a contingency plan. While you may be 100% sure that you don’t want future kids now, life happens and circumstances can change. Men who get divorced, remarry, lose a child, or even get sad once their kids have left the nest may change their mind down the road. Sperm banking leaves options open in the future *just in case*.
You may be wondering… what do you do with the sperm if you decide to use it? There are a few options, but all fall under the umbrella of assisted reproduction.
IVF/ICSI: This is essentially sperm and egg within the petri dish for fertilization (in-vitro fertilization, IVF) or injecting the sperm directly into the egg to fertilize it (intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI of the egg). This would require an egg retrieval on the female side and eventual implantation of an embryo for pregnancy.
IUI: This is injection of the sperm through the cervix into the uterus, putting the sperm a few steps ahead in the fertilization game. They still have to swim and find the egg to fertilize it.
Scenarios Where Sperm Banking is Recommended
As a provider, we fully support your decision to not have children in the future and we want you to be 100% sure and confident about your decision to have a vasectomy. While we recognize that, we also know that life can change and there are certain situations it is a good idea to keep your options open. We typically recommend that younger men, men who have any ounce of uncertainty, or men who have partners who may want children in the future bank their sperm. Life changes can be unexpected, so there is nothing wrong with having a backup plan set in place.
How to Choose a Sperm Bank
When choosing your sperm bank, you first need to make sure it is a reputable facility. This is your insurance for the future, so choosing a facility with a longstanding history and excellent reviews from previous clients is exceedingly important. This facility should have a high pregnancy success rate as well.
While reputation is probably the most important, cost is a close second. The process of undergoing sperm banking typically includes an up-front fee to test and freeze the sperm as well as a monthly storage fee. You should find a clinic that is compatible with your budget. You will likely be paying a monthly storage fee until you either decide to use or dispose of your sperm, so this must be taken into account.
There are a variety of locations across the Phoenix area that are excellent options for sperm banking. There are also a variety of mail-in sperm banks that are also very convenient as you can collect your sample at home and send it in. They tend to be a bit more affordable than the in-person options.
Emotional and Psychological Considerations
Open communication with your partner is key in the process of deciding to bank sperm. It is imperative to discuss the time frame you plan to keep this as a backup plan as well as what to do with the sperm once it is decided that you won’t use them. It may also be a point of contention if one partner is 100% sure but the other isn’t or that one partner is desiring a contingency plan in the event of future life changes. The most important thing to recognize is that most people don’t undergo a procedure like a vasectomy without being sure, but sperm banking is simply just an insurance policy JUST IN CASE life changes things in the future.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
It is very important to read through contracts and fully understand the process involved at the facility that you choose. Banking sperm for your own personal use in the future is very different than being a sperm donor. You should have full control over your sperm until you decide that you won’t use them.
Facilities all have different options for your sperm once you decide you no longer want them. These include sperm donation for other people to use, donation for facility teaching/testing purposes, donation for research purposes, or simple disposal of the sperm.
Choosing to have a vasectomy can be a difficult decision. It is a permanent procedure that prevents sperm from reaching the ejaculate and while it can be reversed, reversal can be expensive and does not always guarantee successful pregnancy. While most guys are 100% sure they don’t want biological children in the future, some men are only 99% or 98% sure (or maybe even a little less). We typically recommend sperm banking for younger men who have a lot of life ahead of them, men who have even the slightest possible desire for children in the future, or for men who have partners that may want children in the future. It provides insurance that there is still an option in case life changes in the future.
If you fall into any of those categories, talk to your doctor or seek out a fertility specialist to inquire about sperm banking before your vasectomy.
