Final answer:
Semen must be processed and cooled to 5°C within an hour after mixing with the extender, held at this temperature for 4-6 hours before freezing, and thawed carefully prior to use in fertility treatments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of semen analysis and cryopreservation is critical in the context of fertility treatments and artificial insemination. When semen is collected for these purposes, it is essential that it reaches the laboratory within a specific time frame. The semen should be kept at 30°C after ejaculation and then mixed with the extender. After the extender is added, the semen-extender mixture must be cooled down to 5°C within an hour. Subsequently, it should be held at 5°C for several hours (4-6 hours) to allow the sperm cells to equilibrate with the extender.
Following this, the mixture is packed into straws and frozen using nitrogen vapor. The freezing rate is critical, with a controlled reduction in temperature. Finally, the frozen straws are stored at a stable -196°C. When needed for insemination, semen thawing involves carefully bringing the frozen semen back to body temperature, ensuring sperm survival and viability for successful fertilization.