Risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases by cryopreserved semen

The increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) involves the risk of the transmission of these diseases by the artificial insemination. Therefore the cryotolerance of several microorganisms causing STD and the efficiency of penicillin of the cryoprotective medium (CMP) against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N.g.) were investigated. The results have shown that penicillinase-producing N.g. (PPNG), genital mycoplasmas and Candida species survive the cryopreservation. Trichomonas vaginalis could not be recultivated after our temperature-time-regimen of the cryopreserving process. CPM with penicillin was unable to prevent a transmission of penicillin-sensitive N.g.