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Fertility · UK

Sperm Freezing - protect your future fertility.

HFEA-licensed cryopreservation, clear pricing and honest storage terms. Before chemotherapy, vasectomy, gender-affirming care, or as elective protection - with same-week appointments where cancer treatment is planned.

See indicative pricing
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Indicative pricing

What private sperm freezing costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our HFEA-licensed andrology network.

In short

£450–£800, with cancer-pathway fast-track same week.

Service Indicative range
Semen analysis (standalone) £150–£250
Freeze + 1 year storage £450–£800
Annual storage renewal £200–£450
10-year storage block £1,800–£3,500
Surgical retrieval (TESE, PESA) £2,800–£5,500
mTESE for non-obstructive azoospermia £5,500–£9,500
Sample transfer between clinics £350–£800

Prices vary by clinic, by number of vials, and by whether surgical retrieval is needed. NHS funds sperm freezing before cancer treatment - ask before self-paying.

The problem

HFEA-licensed only, and never at the pace of a busy oncology diary.

Sperm freezing is where fertility protection quietly slips - the referral is late, the clinic is not licensed, storage renewals are missed. We fix all three.

  • HFEA licensed, or not at all

    Only clinics with a current HFEA storage licence can legally store sperm in the UK. We only use those.

  • Same-week for cancer pathways

    Chemotherapy cannot wait.

  • Storage renewals actually diarised

    HFEA storage runs in 10-year renewable blocks up to 55 years. We help you keep the paperwork current - a missed renewal loses the sample.

When it helps

When sperm freezing is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the red flag that means fast-track referral before treatment starts.

  • Before cancer treatment

    Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause temporary or permanent infertility. Freeze before treatment starts, ideally within a week of diagnosis.

  • Before vasectomy

    Sensible insurance against changing your mind, or in case of unexpected loss of a partner or child.

  • Before gender-affirming HRT

    Feminising hormones can permanently affect sperm production. Freeze before starting, or during a planned pause.

  • Before high-risk surgery

    Prostatectomy, pelvic surgery, retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection - all can affect ejaculation and fertility.

  • Spinal cord injury

    Ejaculation may be lost or altered. Surgical retrieval and cryopreservation preserve future options.

  • Declining sperm parameters

    Where semen analyses show a downward trend and family plans are years off - banking now while quality is best.

  • Elective fertility protection

    For men delaying fatherhood into their 40s - sperm ageing is real, if less abrupt than egg ageing.

  • Red flag: cancer treatment starting this week

    If chemotherapy or radiotherapy is due to start within days, we fast-track same-week freezing - do not wait for a routine slot.

Options

Ejaculated, surgically retrieved, or shipped from another lab.

What each pathway involves - sample production, surgical retrieval where needed, and inter-clinic transfers.

  • Standard ejaculated sample

    The default. Private collection room at the andrology lab, 2–5 days of abstinence, analysed and frozen within hours.

  • Home collection and transport

    For men who cannot produce a sample in clinic. Strict timing: sample must reach the lab within 60 minutes at body temperature.

  • PESA (percutaneous epididymal aspiration)

    For obstructive azoospermia - sperm aspirated from the epididymis under local anaesthetic. Straightforward day-case.

  • TESE (testicular sperm extraction)

    A small biopsy of testicular tissue for sperm. Under GA or local, day-case.

  • mTESE (microdissection TESE)

    Microsurgical extraction for non-obstructive azoospermia - the highest yield technique for men with severely impaired production.

  • Electroejaculation

    For men with spinal cord injury or ejaculatory failure - rectal probe stimulation under sedation or GA.

  • Vibrostimulation

    A non-invasive first-line for some spinal cord injuries - vibratory stimulation of the frenulum.

  • Inter-clinic transfer

    Moving frozen straws between UK clinics or from overseas. Requires HFEA paperwork and careful logistics.

Safety and recovery

What to expect afterwards - honestly.

Sperm freezing is safe and non-invasive for ejaculated samples. What matters is timing, HFEA licensing and keeping storage current.

  • The freezing itself is very safe

    Producing an ejaculated sample carries no medical risk. Surgical retrieval carries small risks of bleeding, infection and discomfort.

  • HFEA storage rules matter

    Storage is in 10-year renewable blocks up to a total of 55 years. Miss the renewal window and the sample is destroyed - we diarise it.

  • Screening bloods are non-negotiable

    HIV, hepatitis B and C, HTLV within 3 months of storage. Positive results do not stop storage but require quarantine tanks.

  • Quality varies between collections

    We usually advise 2–3 collections, spaced 2–3 days apart, to bank a reasonable number of vials - insurance against a bad-day sample.

  • Post-thaw survival is 30–70%

    Not every sperm survives freezing. That is why we freeze more than we think we need, and why parameters matter.

  • Success rates depend on the treatment used later

    IUI with frozen sperm: 5–15% per cycle. IVF/ICSI with frozen sperm from good samples: 25–40% per cycle in your 30s.

  • Consent can be updated

    You can vary storage duration, permitted use and consent for use after death at any time. We help with the paperwork.

  • Withdrawal is straightforward

    When needed for IUI, IVF or ICSI, straws are shipped between HFEA-licensed clinics under standard protocols.

  • Red flags after any procedure

    For surgical retrieval: fever, spreading swelling, severe pain or unexpected bleeding needs same-day review.

Reading your notes

Your semen analysis report in four parts. Read the last one first.

The report the andrology lab sends you keeps to the same shape whatever the indication.

A UK andrologist reviewing a semen analysis report

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise - we translate it if you would like.

If you would like us to talk you through your notes before your review, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and consent status

    Why sperm freezing was requested, HFEA consent forms signed, and storage duration elected.

  2. 02 Analysis

    Pre-freeze semen parameters

    Volume, count, motility, morphology against WHO 2021 reference values, plus liquefaction and pH.

  3. 03 Cryopreservation

    Number of straws stored

    Cryoprotectant used, straws frozen, storage tank ID. This is how much you have banked.

  4. 04 Storage plan

    Renewal dates and next steps

    Read this first: your next HFEA renewal date, contact routes for withdrawal, and any recommended repeat collection.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Cover for sperm freezing is variable - often included for cancer pathways, rarely for elective protection.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask about sperm freezing.

Quick answers on HFEA storage, 55-year limit, cancer pathways, cost and success rates.

  • How long can I store sperm in the UK?

    HFEA rules allow storage in 10-year renewable blocks, up to a maximum of 55 years in total, as long as you renew consent each block. Miss the renewal window and the sample must be destroyed - which is why we diarise renewals for every patient.

  • How much does sperm freezing cost privately?

    Freezing and the first year of storage typically runs £450–£800. Annual storage renewals run £200–£450, or £1,800–£3,500 for a 10-year block. Surgical retrieval where needed runs £2,800–£9,500. NHS funds sperm freezing before cancer treatment - ask before self-paying.

  • How many samples should I bank?

    Most patients bank 2–3 samples, 2–3 days apart. Not every sperm survives thawing, and treatments like IVF and ICSI can need multiple attempts. If cancer treatment is imminent, we take what we can in the days available.

  • Will freezing my sperm affect its quality?

    Post-thaw survival is typically 30–70%. Good samples freeze well and remain viable for decades.

  • Can I freeze sperm before a vasectomy?

    Yes, and many men do. It is inexpensive insurance in case your circumstances change. Consent explicitly authorises what the sample can be used for and by whom, and can be updated at any time.

  • What happens to my sperm if I die?

    HFEA consent forms include a specific option for posthumous use - you can permit or forbid your partner (or a named surrogate) using the sample after your death. Without that consent, the sample is destroyed.

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