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Women's Health Services

Step 3: Sperm Collection and Preparation

Sperm for the IVF process is usually collected prior to the egg retrieval. The man is asked to abstain from sex for two to five days prior to the collection, which is usually achieved through masturbation. Stress can sometimes inhibit the man's ability to produce a specimen when needed. In those instances, a semen specimen can be produced and frozen ahead of time. Once the sample is produced, the sperm will be prepared for inseminating the collected eggs in our laboratory.