‘Men should consider freezing sperm like women freeze their eggs’

IT’S a protective measure normally associated with the fairer sex, but there are growing calls for men to take similar precautions.

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SINGLE men are just as concerned as women about preserving their fertility so they don’t miss the baby boat, so sperm freezing could be the answer.

As the number of single females freezing eggs in their 20s and 30s soars, fertility experts say men also have a ticking biological clock and shouldn’t take baby making for granted.

“At Queensland Fertility Group we already freeze the sperm of men in risky jobs like the armed forces. These men don’t want to take the chance of missing out on fatherhood,” clinical director David Molloy said.

Swimmer Cade Fasala has his sights set on future Olympics and believes men who have careers mapped out should think about freezing sperm so they don't miss the baby boat later. Pic: Tara Croser

“It is not all plain sailing when a man hits 40. There can be abnormalities in the sperm and a higher risk of having a child with genetic defects,” the fertility expert said.

Men have better quality sperm in their 20s and 30s and a decade of ageing can result in a drop in sperm count and speed and can make it harder for couples to conceive.

“Sperm freezing is a simple procedure and it can work well but there is the risk that the sperm may lose its potency. Men may look to the sperm freezing in the future,” Dr Molloy said.

A bioethicist, Kevin R Smith, published a controversial paper in the British Journal of Medical Ethics urging men to freeze their sperm at age 18.

“We are not at the point where we would recommend this. Realistically, sperm freezing can be done in the 30s. We would have to look at the specific case and counsel the patient,” Dr Molloy said.

Dr Molloy said lifestyle was one of the biggest factors when it came to male fertility. To ensure peak mobility in sperm and avoid DNA damage, it helped to stay away from cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, steroids and sexual lubricants.

Brisbane’s Cade Fasala, 21, son of Mean Machine Olympic silver medalist Greg, has his sights set on the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Olympic Games.

‘‘Men and women want to put time into their careers and they may not meet their partner until later in life.

Originally published as ‘Men should consider freezing sperm like women freeze their eggs’