Ontario Fertility Program (OFP) Funded IVF Cycles Now at Pollin. No Waitlist! - Learn More
Plan ahead with an OHIP-covered consultation for eligible patients, diagnostic testing, semen analysis, and sperm cryopreservation guidance.
Sperm freezing, or sperm cryopreservation is a proactive process of collecting, freezing, and storing sperm. The sperm can be used in the future for procedures such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Preserve sperm at its healthiest for family building in the future—when the time is right for you.
Freeze before any medical treatment that may affect sperm quality or quantity
Prepared sperm is frozen in vials and safely and securely stored in liquid nitrogen freezers until you are ready to use it.
Your first step is a consultation with a Pollin fertility specialist either in person or virtually.
Book directly with Pollin. If you have a GP, they can submit a referral for you using a direct link on our website HERE. If you do not have a GP, a member of our team will contact you after you book to facilitate one for you with our partner GP.
Available for eligible Ontario residents.
*with the exception of DFI and other advanced tests that may be required.
Your physician will create a freezing plan based on your fertility assessment, semen analysis, and future family planning goals.
Bank sperm at its healthiest state for possible future treatment.
Freeze before cancer treatment or other care that may affect sperm quality or quantity.
Keep sperm available in case future family plans change.
Frozen sperm can help avoid missed ovulation windows during fertility treatment cycles due to travel or other schedule conflicts.
Preserve sperm before gender-affirming treatments that may affect sperm production, sperm quality or require the removal of testes.
Your specialist reviews your medical history, goals and walks you through the process. Fertility testing will include bloodwork and may include a scrotal ultrasound.
Bloodwork, semen analysis, and advanced testing may be ordered.
Your doctor creates a sperm freezing plan based on diagnostic testing results and future family building goals.
Sperm is prepared, protected, placed in vials, and safely stored in liquid nitrogen freezers until you are ready to use it.
A clear starting point for affording your sperm freezing treatment.
✓Consultations
✓Bloodwork & ultrasounds
✓Semen collection and analysis
✓Dedicated care team
✓First year of storage
✗ Medication, if required
✗ Any advanced testing or genetic screening not covered by OHIP, if applicable
✗ Any surgical procedures to extract sperm not covered by OHIP
✗ Annual storage of sperm after 1st year ($900 per year)
There are many reasons to consider freezing your sperm:
You have low sperm count: Some cases of low sperm count cause a progressive decline over time. Cryopreservation allows you to freeze sperm at its healthiest state and use banked sperm now or in the future for fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic spermatic injection (ICSI), or intrauterine insemination (IUI).
You have a medical condition or are about to undergo a treatment that affects your sperm count: Certain medical conditions and treatment, such as cancer treatments, can affect sperm quality and quantity. Freezing sperm beforehand safeguards your ability to have children after your treatment is complete.
You are about to have a vasectomy: Ensure sperm is available in case you change your mind about having (more) children.
Scheduling conflicts: If you're away frequently during your partner's ovulation period, having frozen sperm can ensure you don't miss the fertility window.
Aging and reproductive health: As men age, sperm quality diminishes. Freezing sperm in your 30s or 40s can be a proactive step towards a healthy family in the future.
Gender-affirming care: Transgender individuals with functioning testes may wish to freeze sperm prior to commencing gender-affirming treatment. These treatments may affect the ability of the testes to produce sperm or remove the testes completely.
Yes, you do need a referral to see a fertility specialist in Ontario, however Pollin can facilitate one for you through an OHIP-covered, virtual appointment with our partner GP if you do not have your own GP.
You can book an initial consultation directly through our website without a referral and a member of our care team will contact you before your appointment date to get you set up with one.
Our andrology team places prepared sperm into a special freezing solution in small vials that are then stored in freezers that contain liquid nitrogen. The sperm stays safely frozen at a constant temperature until you are ready to use it.
Research shows sperm tends to be healthiest between the ages of 18-35. Much like egg quality, sperm quality also declines with age just not as rapidly. Although sperm is ideally frozen before the age of 40, sperm freezing remains a good option for men and anyone with testes even over the age of 40 who are in good general health with no history of cancer or other hereditary disease.
Your Pollin physician will go over your personal fertility health and family building goals to ensure sperm freezing is right for you.
Frozen (or vitrified) sperm has been successfully stored for decades and used to achieve pregnancy. Our advanced cryopreservation methods used at Pollin allow you to rest assured that your sperm will be safely stored for if, and when, you are ready to use it.
Book a sperm freezing consultation and get guidance on timing, testing, and storage.
