random question: transporting sperm sample from house to SG

[Anonymous]

We have our first egg retrieval tomorrow and were surprised when SG told us it would be better to bring a sperm sample from home (we live about 45 minutes from the Rockville office). Does anyone happen to know if the jar with the sample is supposed to be kept near the body (in a pocket, under my shirt) to keep it warm before we get it to the clinic. I think I've read stuff about that, but now I can't find any details. I guess if it made a big difference, SG would have put it on the instruction sheet. Just curious if anyone was told to do this (or not)... Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

Stick the sample cup in your bra while you drive to the Rockville office.

[Anonymous]

If it makes you feel more comfortable I would tell them you prefer to make the sample at their office. They "prefer" that you provide the sample from home but if it makes you feel better I would just tell your nurse you want to provide the sample there.

[Anonymous]

My husband found that there was a lot less pressure on him when he was able to produce the sample at home. We then just put it in my bra and carried it there.

[Anonymous]

I transported the cup in the festive bag provided, to keep it out of sunlight and then put the bag in my lap (I figure that this location has the closest temperature to my testicles as you can get).

This IS confusing because literature advises that the sample should not get "hot or cold" and but you have to remember that sperm needs to be at a temperature of between 95 and 97 degrees. So I think you have to take into consideration the temperature of your car, outside and yourself, if you are putting the sample close to your body/under your clothes.

[Anonymous]

we live about 45 min away also and even though they didn't tell us to I kept it in my bra. We were kinda upset that it took them 30 - 45 min to get it from us once we got there as you always hear how time sensitive it i but it must not have mattered as the end result was a baby!

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks so much for all these responses. I really don't know how I would have made it through (the frist part of) my first cycle w/out this board!!!

[Anonymous]

7:42: I am impressed you handled the 30 minute wait! I was going nuts and it only took them 5 minutes to get ours. I remember reading recently that they have extended the time be producing the sample and processing it b/c there is no decreased in the success rate.

Ours worked too- we have twins due in October!

[Anonymous]

OP here again, I thought I'd finish off this thread in case anyone else needs the info. When we got to SG for the retrieval the nurse said that we should keep the sperm close to the body to keep it warm while we waited for someone from the lab to pick it up. Luckily, after reading all the responses here I had already been keeping it warm. 5 of the 6 mature eggs that were retrieved became embryos - so I guess the sperm survived OK. Thanks again!!!

[Anonymous]

Why does SG prefer you collect at home? Our nurse said that sometimes males weren't able to ... produce under the pressure of collecting in Rockville, but if we're not worried about that wouldn't it be better for the sperm to be fresher??
If this is about not taking up a room at SG I'd WAY rather push for collecting in Rockville... then again, it's not really up to me to produce anything...

[Anonymous]

Wow, thanks for this thread, I had no idea that you're supposed to keep it close to your body!