Where to get sperm test

Home sperm tests only determine sperm concentration. They don't measure any other factors. Many common causes of male infertility are missed by at-home sperm tests.

A typical semen analysis performed by an infertility specialist assesses:. If you're concerned about your fertility, get an infertility evaluation. Relying on a home sperm test might lead to delays in seeking appropriate fertility evaluation and treatment. Todd B. Nippoldt, M. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.

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The American Association for Clinical Chemistry recommends that medical professionals carry out 2 or more separate sperm analyses within 2- to 3-week intervals.

As sperm profiles can vary from day-to-day, an average of these results may give the most accurate picture of sperm health. A sperm analysis looks at several factors when considering the health of the sperm.

We discuss these factors and their results below. Sperm count refers to the number of sperm that are present in 1 ml of semen. World Health Organization WHO guidelines suggest that a normal sperm count is at least 15 million per ml or no fewer than 39 million sperm per sample.

Having less than this indicates a low sperm count. Some research suggests that up to 90 percent of male infertility issues result from abnormal sperm counts. Home sperm analysis kits usually only test for sperm count. As this is just one aspect of male fertility, it is important that people see their doctor and get comprehensive sperm analysis to check for other factors affecting their sperm.

Sperm motility is the ability of the sperm to move efficiently. In a typical sample, at least 50 percent of the sperm will demonstrate normal motility. Morphology refers to the size and the shape of the individual sperm. Normal sperm have a long tail and oval-shaped head. Abnormally sized or shaped sperm can have difficulty reaching, penetrating, and fertilizing the egg. Normal semen contains a minimum of 4 percent sperm with standard form. Although sperm count, motility, and morphology are three of the main factors that medical professionals will check when assessing male fertility, they are not the only factors.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC advise that a slightly abnormal sperm analysis does not mean that a person is permanently infertile. Instead, doctors can use the results as a tool to help identify what factors are causing fertility issues. During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI is a type of IVF technique, in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to fertilise it. The fertilised egg is then transferred to the woman's womb. ICSI may be offered if you've been trying to conceive naturally with your partner for at least 2 years and you have either few or no sperm in your semen or poor quality sperm.

Before having ICSI, you and your partner will need to have an assessment to ensure the treatment is appropriate. This will involve questions about your medical and sexual history, and screening tests to check for infections or genetic problems that could affect your baby and the chances of ICSI working. You may wish to consider using donor insemination as an alternative to ICSI, particularly if you have a genetic disorder that could be passed on to any children.

It can be used as part of IVF if necessary. If you're considering donor insemination, you should be offered counselling as a couple about the implications for you and your children. Read more about what you need to know about using a sperm donor.

If you have very low levels of gonadotrophin hormones that stimulate the production of sperm , you should be offered treatment with gonadotrophin medicine to improve your fertility. If everything is normal, you might consider freezing your sperm.

Some men will find that, simply by improving their lifestyle habits—quitting smoking, starting an exercise regimen, or including more veggies and healthy fats in their diet—they can improve their sperm on their own, without medical intervention. Spermatogenesis, the process of creating sperm, takes about 74 days, so if you do implement changes, expect that it will be 2—3 months before you see a difference in your fertility.

You may also want to repeat male fertility testing 2—3 months after making a lifestyle change, to assess how well it worked.

IUI or intrauterine insemination is a process in which a semen sample is washed AKA, healthy sperm are isolated from the rest of the seminal fluid and then inserted directly into the uterus, bypassing the vagina and the cervix. Learn more about IUI. In vitro fertilization IVF is a more powerful fertility treatment, and paired with intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI can treat even the most severe cases of male-factor infertility. In the lab, an embryologist can perform ICSI, the process in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg to aid fertilization.

In some cases, sperm may not be developing properly, or may not proceed as they should from the testicles into the semen possibly due to issues with spermatogenesis, congenital absence of the vas deferens, severe ejaculatory dysfunction, or other diagnoses.

An option for these men is sperm extraction or aspiration directly from the testicular tissue. There are a few different procedures that can accomplish this goal: testicular sperm aspiration TESA , which a small sample of testicular tissue is removed and examined for the presence of sperm; testicular sperm extraction TESE , in which the testicle is surgically opened to allow for a larger sample to be taken; or percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration PESA , in which a needle is used to take fluid from a duct behind the testes, which will then be examined for sperm.

Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor may be able to treat male infertility with oral or injectable medication. Still have questions about male fertility testing?