Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of homologous sperm banking in Uruguay. A retrospective investigation was performed on data collected between 2013 and 2015. Reasons for sperm banking, patient age, pre-freeze and post-thaw semen parameters, and recovery rates were analyzed. 623 samples were cryobanked between 2013 and 2015. Only 324 samples were considered for analysis after selection based on inclusion criteria. In most cases the samples were stored because the patients were undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (n=190; 58,64%) or for oncological reasons (n=113; 34,88%). The median age of bankers was 34 years. In the cancer group, 61.95% (n=70) of the subjects had been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Medians of semen parameters for both groups were above the lower reference limits dictated by the . In fresh samples, a significant difference was observed in progressive motility (47% vs. 56%) between ART and oncological patients. After thawing, total motility (27% vs. 32%), progressive motility (19% vs. 22%), and vitality (48% vs. 56%) differed significantly between ART and oncological bankers. Semen banking has been performed successfully in Uruguay and outcomes are on par with international standards. Surprisingly, the semen parameters of the cancer group were nearly normal.
Highlights
Sperm cryopreservation is a biotechnology widely used in andrology laboratories, those associated with assisted reproduction centers (World Health Organization, 2010)
In most cases the samples were stored because the patients were undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (n=190; 58.64%) or for oncological reasons (n=113; 34.88%)
Bankers in the cancer group were significantly younger than all other banker groups, with a median age of 28 years (22-33); approximately 75% of the male cancer patients were aged 33 or younger
Summary
Sperm cryopreservation is a biotechnology widely used in andrology laboratories, those associated with assisted reproduction centers (World Health Organization, 2010). The cryopreservation process involves several steps, beginning with exposure of the tissue or cells to cryoprotectants, followed by subsequent cooling to temperatures below zero and long term storing in liquid nitrogen (LN2) at -196°C in order to preserve viability. A thawing step is employed and physiological conditions are restored. During this complex procedure cells must maintain their integrity (Agca, 2000). The effectiveness of these techniques depends on the cell type, differing among species and individuals. It is vital to comprehend the physiology of the material to be cryopreserved in order to ensure their post-thaw survival and functionality (Woods et al, 2004)
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