"Clinical data estimates that almost 12 per cent of Indian couples suffer from some form of infertility, and quality sperm banks such as the one set up in Mulund at Mumbai will immensely help in providing safe and viable alternative for them to start a family," said Padma Bhushan, Dr Pushpa Mitra Bhargava, former vice chairman of Knowledge Commission of India and member of the ICMR Committee formed to formulate guidelines for Assisted Reproduction Clinics, while inaugurating India's first international sperm bank set up in Mumbai.
"Quality sperm banking also offers a safe alternative for those requiring medical treatment such as radiation or chemo-therapy and for those undergoing surgeries which may impair their ability to produce sperm," Dr Bhargava further added.
Indian Council for Medical Research has recognized this growing need for Assisted Reproduction Clinics and has recently issued guidelines for such clinics that include sperm banking facilities. Dr Bhargava is a core member of the Draft and Implementation Committee of ICMR Guidelines for Assisted Reproduction Clinics which specify that sperm banks need to be managed as separate and independent entities from hospitals and IVF clinics.
Ole Schou, founder and managing director, Cryos International, Denmark, said, "Globally, sperm banking is no longer a solution only for the infertile couples. Couples or individual men choose to freeze their sperms for various reasons that could be related to their lifestyle, medical conditions or simply a matter of choice."
The lifestyle reasons include working in hazardous or toxic conditions such as mining and radioactive sites; travel or work on off-shore assignments away from spouses for long periods and late marriages, among others.
Dilip Patil, managing director, Cryos International India said, "With the growing awareness and acceptability of ART (Assisted Reproduction Technique), there is growing demand for independent, quality sperm and egg banks in India. Cryos, Denmark is recognized across the world as the leading sperm bank, and is renowned for its technology, high standards and practices. We are delighted to offer the same international quality services in India."
Cryos International India will offer its expertise in donor semen, patient deposits and other semen related clinical products at its state-of-the-art facility in Mulund West. The state-of-the-art facility is the first in India to adhere to the European, USFDA and ICMR guidelines.
As part of the agreement, Cryos International has transferred the technology, protocols and will impart continual and extensive training to the entire staff of Cryos International India on a periodic basis in India and Denmark. Cryos International and Cryos India would be sharing information on-line through a proprietary software called CRYOBASE.
Patil further stated, "Another critically important factor for Cryos International India is the "privacy and confidentiality" of information. As recommended by the ICMR, the donor and recipient information will be completely protected."
The international network of Cryos Sperm Banks presently supply high quality frozen tested donor semen to more than 60 countries all over the world and offers a selection of more than 300 donors of different races and ethnicities.
Cryos International is a worldwide network of sperm bank distributors of clinical sperm related products with headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark.