Sperm banks in space could soon become a reality, reports say

Scientists have suggested that a sperm bank could one day open in space, according to a new study.

According to the results of a small preliminary study, frozen samples exposed to micro-gravity conditions and those that are kept on the ground, keep the same characteristics.

The study suggests that frozen sperm could one day make its way to space to “open the possibility of creating a human sperm bank outside of Earth”, the researchers said.

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There will be further work to full understand the effect of space conditions on sperm, however.

The report was presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology annual meeting in Vienna, Austria.

It said that not a lot is known about how different levels of gravity affects sperm.
Dr Montserrat Boada, from Dexeus Women’s Health in Barcelona, said: “Some studies suggest a significant decrease in the motility of human fresh sperm sample.

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