Destruction of Spermatozoa in Freeze-Thawing of Human Semen

Abstract

In an attempt to investigate whether it is possible to obtain an increased density of normal spermatozoa by freezing and thawing human semen, the light microscopic appearance of human spermatozoa was investigated in fresh ejaculates and in the same ejaculates after freezing and thawing. An increased number of destroyed spermatozoa was demonstrated after freezing and thawing. The percentage of spermatozoal tail defects was incerased in frozen and thawed specimens. There was no difference between the percentage of spermatozoa with head or middle piece aberrations in fresh semen, on the one hand, and in frozen and thawed semen, on the other. It would therefore seem impossible to freeze and thaw semen in order to obtain an increased number of spermatozoa with a normal appearance.