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    Sperm depositors during a global pandemic

    During the 2020 pandemic, Cryos International experienced an increase in men wanting to deposit their sperm. At the same time, there was a lot of attention focused on the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on male fertility. This led to an investigation on the motivation of depositors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study showed that the pandemic had no effect on the depositors’ motivation for depositing their sperm.


      The average paternal and maternal age has been increasing over the past decades. Postponing parenthood to advanced age is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. E.g., mothers having an increased rate of miscarriages, offspring having an increased risk of childhood cancer and mental disorders, and men having a decrease in semen parameters and increased genetic mutations in their sperm. Cryopreservation of gametes enables protection, prolonging, and seemingly preserving of fertility potential. This can be used for medical reasons e.g., men undergoing cancer treatment, military service, or a vasectomy. Cryopreservation without a medical reason, known as social freezing, is becoming increasingly popular.

      Sperm straws stored in liquid nitrogen at Cryos International.

      During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cryos International experienced an influx of men wanting to deposit their sperm. A questionnaire-based study was initiated to investigate the motivations for the men wanting to deposit sperm. Findings of the study showed that depositors chose to deposit mainly due to medical reasons e.g., cancer, sex change, and that the COVID-19 pandemic had no significant influence on the reason for depositing their sperm.

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