The cryopreservation of spermatozoa is an important reproductive technology for the preservation of fertility in man and animals. Since discovery, it has undergone many changes in terms of the freezing methods, freezing and thawing rates, and the protective media. This has led to an abundance of research articles discussing freezing protocols without systematic comparison. An extensive literature survey has been conducted addressing the cryoprotectants employed for both animal and human semen and the freezing protocols utilised to address this issue.

Environmental contamination with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is one of the global problems of the 21st century. In this aspect, the positive correlation between POPs and increased risk of ovarian dysfunction seems alarming. Our study indicated that POPs are responsible for disorders of female fertility and further may lead to rapid population aging in many countries.