Frequently asked questions

What happens if my sample doesn't have any sperm?

Troubleshooting

If, for whatever reason, your sample isn't viable and isn't able to be stored, we will discard it, contact you, and refund you for the cost of storage.

Why do I need an STI panel?

STI testing

Fertility clinics require certain testing and documentation to be completed at the time of freezing in order to store and use your sample in the future. In most cases, clinics will require an STI panel in order to use a sperm sample, even if you’re using it with a sexually intimate partner.

Should I purchase the STI kit with the storage plan?

STI testing

Posterity requires that you have a STI panel within 6 weeks of producing a sample if you’re planning on freezing it.If you have completed an STI panel with Posterity or another provider within that 6-week period, you can purchase the yearly storage plan on its own. If, by the time you produce the sample, it will be more than 6 weeks since your STI panel, you should purchase yearly storage + STI test kit.

I ordered a semen analysis kit through Posterity. Do I have to produce an additional sample for cryostorage?

Process & kit components

The semen analysis kit ordered by Posterity is analyzed by Legacy’s lab. If you purchase cryostorage on the same day that you order your semen analysis kit, the sample that you produce for the analysis will be the same sample that gets cryopreserved and sent to storage.If you order a cryostorage plan later, you will need to purchase a new analysis kit and produce a new sample. Questions? Reach out: clientservices@givelegacy.com or 617-514-0901

What happens if my first sample is deemed not viable for freezing?

Troubleshooting

If your analysis reveals that your sample isn’t viable for freezing — for example, if no sperm was found in your sample — you have a few options. You can speak to one of our male fertility specialists to understand what may be affecting your fertility, as well as some next steps you may want to take. You also may want to re-test to confirm any abnormal results.

Don’t worry: if your sample is deemed not viable for storage by our lab, we’ll refund you for the storage plan you purchased as well as any unused services, such as additional testing that could not be performed.

Learn more about our refund policy.

How to pay

Pricing & payment

Employer and organizational benefits

Insurance coverage: Leading insurance plans cover a For Today semen analysis kit and a full year of frozen sperm storage. Check your insurance eligibility.

HSA or FSA. If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) as part of your healthcare benefits, you may use those dollars to pay for, or reimburse yourself for, your For Today Semen Analysis.

Other employer benefits: Legacy is in-network with leading fertility benefits programs that may be offered by your employer, including Carrot, Kindbody, Stork Club, Progyny, and WINFertility. Learn more.

Military benefits: We offer discounted or free access to Legacy’s at-home semen analysis and sperm freezing to many active-duty and veteran members of the US military, through partnerships with the following organizations.

For Naval Special Warfare: Military Family Building Coalition’s Tadpole Project

For US Army Special Forces: Green Beret Foundation

For all service members and veterans: The Operation Baby Foundation

For veterans: Veterans Advantage

Legacy’s semen analysis looks at all the key metrics of sperm health. Many at-home sperm testing options don’t look at sperm motility or morphology, which are important parameters. We’re the only at-home sperm freezing option that includes a post-thaw analysis.

Our test is a clinic-grade semen analysis, without the clinic.

What are all the key metrics of sperm health?

Sperm testing

Semen volume: How much semen you’re producing
Sperm concentration: How many sperm are present in your semen
Sperm motility: How many of your sperm are moving — a crucial indicator of your sperm’s health and fertility
Total motile sperm count: The final calculation of your sperm quantity and quality, which is highly correlated to your chances of creating a pregnancy
Sperm morphology: How many of your sperm are the proper size and shape
DNA fragmentation: The degree of damage to the genetic information carried by sperm
Post-thaw analysis: We freeze and thaw a small portion of your sample to assess if it’s a good candidate for cryopreservation (sperm freezing)

Legacy’s semen analysis looks at all the key metrics of sperm health. Many at-home sperm testing options don’t look at sperm motility or morphology, which are important parameters. We’re the only at-home sperm freezing option that includes a post-thaw analysis, and the only at-home sperm DNA fragmentation analysis option.

Our test is a clinic-grade semen analysis, without the clinic.

Who is the Forever bundle best for?

Process & kit components

Cancer patients prior to treatment. Up to 75% of cancer patients may experience impair fertility as a result of cancer treatment. Sperm freezing and long-term storage is a safe and effective means to preserve your ability to have children in the future, allowing you to focus on what’s most important right now — your health.
Those who are planning a vasectomy. A vasectomy is a highly effective contraceptive option. But a small percentage of people who opt for a vasectomy will change their minds in the future, and decide they want (more) children. A vasectomy reversal is an expensive and complex surgery with no guarantee of recovered fertility. Sperm freezing before vasectomy is a less expensive, more reliable choice.
Those who are planning gender-affirming therapy or surgery. Estrogen or testosterone-blocking hormone therapy prevent sperm from being produced. In some cases, fertility can be recovered if you pause therapy for 6 months, but sperm production is halted permanently for about ⅓ of patients.
Freezing sperm now gives you options for having biological children when you’re ready, without having to stop your hormone therapy — and even if you’ve chosen bottom surgery.

What’s included in the Forever bundle?

Process & kit components

In the bundle:

3 semen analysis kits, to collect 3 samples for testing and freezing
1 DNA fragmentation analysis to evaluate sperm’s genetic health
1 STI testing kit
25 years of frozen sperm storage for 12 vials

In your reports:

Personalized client dashboard that includes more than just your results — it will give you context on what those results really mean for you and your family-building plans.
At-a-glance information about your frozen sperm, including how many vials are stored and where they’re located.
Evidence-based recommendations for improving your fertility health, based on your lifestyle and your personal results.
Exclusive access to book a virtual appointment with one of our male fertility specialist medical providers, to discuss your results and possible next steps.

Does Legacy offer military discounts?

Military & Veterans

Legacy is committed to supporting military families through discounts and special programs.

We’ve partnered with the Military Family Building Coalition to offer complementary sperm testing and freezing to Naval Special Warfare (Navy SEALs).
We’ve partnered with the Green Beret Foundation to offer complementary sperm testing and freezing to Army Special Forces (Green Berets).
We’ve partnered with the Operation Baby Foundation, a non-profit that funds fertility treatments for military families, to provide discounts for sperm testing and freezing.

Both active-duty military members and Veterans are eligible for discounts on our products through WeSalute (20% off) and ID.me (10% off).

How can Veterans access Legacy services?

Military & Veterans

Legacy services are covered by Veterans’ benefits. We are in-network with Optum VA Community Care Network and TriWest, which covers semen analysis and storage. You just need a referral from your healthcare provider.

Follow these 3 easy steps to get started:

Your provider sends a referral over to your community care network. Our NPI is 1366068454.
Your VA provider sends an authorization over to insurance@givelegacy.com. We’re listed as “Give Legacy,” located in New York.
We take care of the rest. When the results are ready, we send them directly to your provider.

Do supplementary fertility benefits providers cover sperm testing or freezing with Legacy?

Pricing & payment

Yes. Fertility benefits programs may provide fertility coverage traditional insurance plans don't. These plans may offer specific discounts or funds for fertility care such as diagnostic tests, infertility treatment, and fertility preservation (like sperm freezing). Major fertility benefits providers include Carrot, Progyny, Maven, and WINFertility. The best way to determine if you have fertility benefits is to contact your employer.

How to pay for sperm DNA fragmentation testing

Pricing & payment

Legacy is in-network with leading health insurance plans, fertility benefits providers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. You may be able to test and freeze your sperm for up to 100% off, depending on your plan. Coverage is available through: Aetna, Cigna, Emblem, UnitedHealthcare, Optum VACCN, TriWest, Progyny, Carrot, Maven, and WIN Fertility.

Learn more about ways to save on sperm testing & freezing.

What does the Advanced Semen Analysis with Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing measure?

Sperm testing

An advanced analysis measures:

Semen volume
Sperm concentration
Motility
Total motile sperm count
Morphology
Sperm DNA fragmentation

In addition, our Advanced Semen Analysis includes lifetime access to our Insights dashboard, including your Sperm Score.

Learn more about these parameters.

Who should do sperm DNA fragmentation testing?

Sperm testing

DNA fragmentation testing is recommended for anyone who:

May be doing fertility treatment, such as IUI or IVF
Is experiencing unexplained infertility
Has experienced pregnancy loss
Has risk factors for elevated DNA fragmentation, inlcuding:
- A history of chemotherapy or vasectomy/vasectomy reversal
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking or cannabis use
- Advanced paternal age (over 35)

Importantly, even those with normal results on a standard semen analysis can have elevated DNA fragmentation, which could impact a couple's ability to get or stay pregnant.

What does the Advanced Semen Analysis measure?

Sperm testing

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Will my fertility return if I stop taking estrogen or T-blockers?

Trying to conceive

Maybe. The “sperm cycle” — how long it takes to produce new sperm — is about 3 months, so you will likely have to pause hormone therapy for at least this long in order to recover fertility. One study found that within 6 months of stopping estrogen therapy, 67% of subjects regained a normal sperm count. That means about 1 of every 3 trans women may be unable to recover their fertility after beginning a medical transition.

Is Legacy’s team familiar with working with trans women and non-binary clients?

Gender transition

Absolutely yes. We have helped more than 2,000 transitioning people preserve their fertility. We work with clients at various stages in their gender transition every day. Our care team has been trained by Folx to provide an inclusive, affirming experience to every client, no matter what their fertility journey.

We partner with several trans healthcare providers, including Folx, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Anchor Health Connecticut, to provide fertility preservation directly to the trans community.

I already had a vasectomy. Is it too late to freeze my sperm?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Not necessarily. Some sperm still remains in the semen for a short time after a vasectomy.

If you’ve already had a vasectomy, we recommend getting a standard semen analysis with an annual freezing plan as soon as possible — after you’re cleared to ejaculate, typically around 1 week post-procedure. This test will assess if there are still viable, quality sperm in your semen. If there are not, we’ll refund the cost of your storage plan.

My vasectomy is happening really soon. Can I still use Legacy to freeze my sperm?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Probably! We want to help expedite the process. Contact us at clientservices@givelegacy.com.

How many vials of sperm should I freeze before my vasectomy?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Sperm freezing

Short answer: as many as you can afford. But the ideal number of samples to store also depends on your future plans. A few questions you might consider:

Do you have kids already? If you don’t, there may be a higher chance that you’ll want kids in the future, even if you’re sure you don’t want them right now. (Hence the vasectomy!)
How old are you? If you’re in your 20s or 30s, it’s more likely that your family plans may change in the future.

Generally speaking, one vial of sperm is used in each IUI or IVF procedure.

1 semen sample = 4 vials of frozen sperm
1 vial of frozen sperm = 1 IUI or IVF procedure

IUI pregnancy rates range from 10–25% per cycle; IVF success rates range from 5–50% per cycle. So, you may need multiple attempts to achieve pregnancy.

How effective is a vasectomy reversal?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Vasectomy reversal success rates vary widely, from about 30% to 90%, depending on several factors.

How long it’s been since your vasectomy: The longer it’s been, the less likely you are to regain fertility after a vasectomy reversal.
The type of procedure you had during your initial vasectomy, and the type of vasectomy reversal you’re pursuing.

The skill level of your surgeon: Vasectomy reversal is a complex microsurgery, and success rates are higher for experienced surgeons than for those who rarely perform vasectomy reversals.

How effective is a vasectomy?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

A vasectomy is a highly effective permanent form of birth control. Vasectomy “failure” is defined as a case in which the vas deferens reconnect after the procedure, once again allowing sperm to enter the semen. Only about 1 or 2 in every 1,000 vasectomies fail, making it over 99% effective.

When should I test my semen after a vasectomy?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Follow your doctor’s instructions. Typically, the advice is to test your semen 8–12 weeks after your vasectomy.

You should aim to ejaculate frequently, starting one week following your procedure and stopping 2–5 days prior to your semen analysis. This will help you “clear out” the sperm from your testes. (Remember, your vasectomy isn’t considered effective until you’ve had a post-vasectomy semen analysis, so these ejaculations should be masturbation or sex with contraception.)

When should I freeze my sperm before a vasectomy?

Vasectomy & vasectomy reversal

Up to 1 in 10 people who have a vasectomy will eventually seek a reversal. The truth is that you may change your mind about having (more) kids in the future. Sperm freezing is a reliable back-up plan that’s significantly more affordable and less invasive than a vasectomy reversal later on.

We recommend ordering your sperm freezing kit(s) as soon as you schedule your vasectomy. This should give you time to freeze one or multiple samples prior to your appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Don’t leave family to chance.