Doctors propose semen bank in Indore district

INDORE: The sterilization experts of health department have proposed opening of a semen bank for preservation of semen in Indore district to promote male sterilization in state.
There are many men, who do not want to get sterilized in a fear of not being able to have a kid if needed after sterilization. In order to solve this problem, the concept of semen bank has been proposed, doctors said.
A laparoscopic surgeon Dr Lalit Pant said that every month more than five men visited his clinic to have a child after sterlilization.Several men avoid from getting sterilized since to attain fertility again was not completely successful. “If we are able to solve their problem, we can motivate more than 50% of men for sterilization,” Dr Pant said.
“There are several reasons because of which a man wants to have a child after sterilization. If a man’s child dies due to some reasons or if he gets divorce and gets married once again, he wants to get desterilized so that he can have a child,” Dr Pant said
In the semen bank semen of a man can be preserved before sterilization. After the operation if he wants to have a child, the preserved semen can be used and he can have child through in vitro fertilization (IVF), he added.
Dr Pant said as this project is for masses, it would be better to have automated freezer or freezing of semen rather than manual freezing, where human errors can’t be addressed.
The storage time period may vary from 1 to 10 years or more, it is advised to have well equipped semen storage tank along with good source of liquid nitrogen.
The project requires investment of Rs 50-60 lakh. The bank can be developed on 1200-1500 square ft area. A team of a doctor, two technician, two counsellors and two attendants will have to be deployed on duty.
Under the project, the storage service will be free till two years, while after that patients will be charged annually with a fix amount.
The project was appreciated by ministry of health. However, after formation of new government in state, doctors presented the project once again to get an approval on it, higher officials said.