The Need for Sperm BankingGo back
Long term freezing of human sperm is frequently desired by men facing the possibility of sterilization, reduction in fertility potential or genetic damage. Specific examples are chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for male oncology patients, transurethral resection of the prostate, vasectomy or high risk occupational exposure to toxic substances.
Sperm Banking by AirGo back
The OverNite Male™ Kit is a convenient tool for patients who have difficulty traveling to one of the many ReproTech Fertility Preservation Network Clinics. These patients can now collect their specimens at home and
FedEx
the specimen(s) directly to the University Andrology Laboratory using our OverNite Male™ Kit. The OverNite Male™ Kit is the original overnight sperm banking system and the only one with 15 years of proven success.
About the OverNite Male™ KitGo back
Developed in 1994 by Gail S. Prins, PhD and the team at the University of Illinois at Chicago Andrology Laboratory, the OverNiteMale™ Kit has more than a 15 year history of helping men preserve their chance at fatherhood. Dr. Prins and the UIC staff are flattered that the OverNite Male™ Kit has often been copied, but stress that copies seldom match the original.
Additionally, due to the economies of scale and the commitments to fertility preservation of both the UIC Andrology Lab and ReproTech, Ltd., you will find that the OverNiteMale™ Kit is the
most economical option available
at $575.00, including shipping of the kit. When you compare the
true costs combined with the level and quality of service of the OverNiteMale™ Kit,
the choice is easy.
How Many Specimens Should be CollectedGo back
Once the need for sperm banking is established by the patient and his physician, the patient contacts ReproTech, Ltd. to order an OverNite Male™ Kit or kits. While the patient will always decide on the number of specimens to cryopreserve, sperm quality and time will often limit the number of kits a patient may use. Ironically, men with lower quality sperm typically collect fewer specimens as they will be used in more advanced procedures. Men with higher quality sperm may want to collect more specimens since they will benefit from less technical and less expensive reproductive procedures to achieve pregnancy.
Keep in mind that with today's advanced reproductive technologies, even one cryopreserved specimen can provide enough sperm for multiple attempts at pregnancy.
Generally 2—3 days sexual abstinence is preferred between collections, thus producing multiple specimens can take up to 2 weeks. However, the collection interval and the number of collections can be adjusted to accommodate physicians who believe this time frame is too lengthy and/or for therapy or surgery which must begin sooner.
Sperm Freezing Success RatesGo back
In general, sperm cells freeze very well. Generally, 40%—60% of sperm retain motility when thawed, depending upon the quality of semen. However, many patients with testicular cancer have reduced sperm count and motility even before therapy. Poor quality specimens do not freeze as well as normal semen samples.
Required TestingGo back
Standards and/or regulations require that patients complete the following serology/virology testing prior to release of specimens from ReproTech for transfer back to patient's clinic for infertility treatment: HBsAg and
Anti-HCV, in addition to Anti-HIV 1&2. These specimens will be assessed standard storage fees.
We will accept specimens from patients without Anti-HIV 1&2 (AIDS) testing or who have tested reactive for one or more of the following: Anti-HIV 1&2, HCV, and HBsAg, however, potentially infectious storage fees will apply.
How to Attempt Pregnancy with Frozen SpermGo back
For specimens with normal count and motility, artificial insemination of thawed sperm into the
spouse/partner's cervix is performed by a fertility specialist. This will require timed ovulation monitoring during the desired month of conception with 1—2 inseminations (1—2 vials each) around the time the egg is released.
For specimens with below normal parameters for sperm count and/or motility, special Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be necessary.
Your cryopreservation results and your partner's own fertility will determine the type of fertility treatment appropriate for you. It is important to learn from your referring physician, ReproTech or from the University Andrology Laboratory the quality of your frozen specimens in order to determine in advance what type of treatment will be most appropriate for your attempt at pregnancy.
Arrangement for the shipment of vials should be done at least one month prior to the time you wish to begin artificial insemination or specialized ART procedures. If you need your samples shipped to another location in the United States, arrangements can be made to ship your specimens via
FedEx. Please contact ReproTech for shipping information approximately 30 days prior to use.
How to Order an OverNite Male™ KitGo back
Ordering an OverNite Male™ Kit is easy. Simply contact ReproTech using the information below to get started. ReproTech will forward by fax or e-mail a set of forms for your completion. The required paperwork and payment must be returned to ReproTech prior to overnight delivery of the kit to you.
For most patients*, $575 covers the costs for the first year (includes the kit, delivery of the kit to and from you, processing, transfer and storage for the first year with ReproTech). For those patients who choose to bank more than one specimen, additional kits are available for $325 each. Note that the recurring annual storage fee is billed on a per patient basis, not a per specimen basis, so whether you choose to use one kit or five, your recurring annual storage fee will be just $275
*An additional annual storage fee of $138 is assessed for patients who do not forward infectious disease testing and/or who have tested reactive for an infectious disease.
Payment may be made by credit card, debit card or PayPal.
ReproTech, Ltd.
550 Village Center Drive Suite 300
St. Paul, MN 55127
Toll-free: 888-586-3389
Fax: 651-489-0442
E-mail: info@reprot.com
www.overnitemalekit.com
About the UIC Andrology LabGo back
The University Andrology Laboratory originally opened at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago in 1982 and relocated in 1996 to the University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center, Department of Urology. The laboratory meets the highest standard of quality control and quality assurance. The operation of the University Andrology Laboratory has been under the direction of Gail S. Prins, PhD, HCLD, from its inception to the present.
Laboratory AccreditationGo back
The University of Illinois at Chicago Andrology Laboratory:
- Is Health Care Finance Administration approved.
- Is College of American Pathologists inspected and accredited.
- Has been inspected and is currently certified by CLIA.
- Inspected, registered and compliant with the FDA Regulations 21 CFR Part 1271.
- Provides all forms of male fertility testing as well as patient sperm banking.
Gail S. Prins, PhD, HCLD, Laboratory Director is certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis as a high complexity laboratory director and is a member of the American Association of Tissue Banks, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and is Past-President of the American Society of Andrology.
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