Male Fertility Tests are very popular with couples who are trying to conceive (ttc) and who would like to check the man’s fertility at home before consulting the medical profession. Inhealth stocks two male fertility tests - the Test Point Male Fertility Test (formerly known as the FertilityScore Male Fertility Test) and the FertilCheck Male and Female Fertility Test. Both these male fertility tests check the concentration of sperm in the sample; the Test Point Male Fertility Test also checks the motility of the sperm. These fertility tests are delivered the next day from Inhealth Ireland’s warehouse in Dublin. See further information on male fertility tests at the end of this page, below the male fertility test products.
Male Fertility or Male Infertility
Infertility is not just a woman’s issue or concern. When fertility testing is done on couples, on average about one man in 25 is found to be infertile. Poor semen quality and low sperm count make up most of these 1-in-25 cases.
How do you start investigating Male Fertility?
A problem with infertility is deemed to be in existence when a couple have been trying to conceive for a year or more, without using any sort of contraception. Many men would prefer to find out by themselves if there is a problem with their fertility before attending a doctor.
Inhealth, Ireland, stocks a range of male fertility tests. These are for use in the comfort and privacy of your own home, but are as accurate as equivalent tests performed by medical professionals. These simple fertility tests check for the concentration of sperm in the sample, as well as the motility of the sperm. Both of these factors are important when a query arises regarding fertility.
What do Male Fertility Tests check for?
Inhealth stocks two male fertility tests:
- the Test-Point Male Fertility Test
- the combined Female and Male Fertility test BabyStart FertilCheck Plus.
The Test Point Male fertility test checks for two things:
- sperm concentration
- sperm motility.
Sperm concentration is important when infertility is a concern. It refers to the concentration of sperm in a man’s ejaculate. Currently, over twenty million sperm per ml is considered normal. The result from the Test Point Male Fertility Test shows whether the man has above or below the average sperm concentration.
Sperm motility refers to the ability of the sperm to move or swim. This is vital part of the process of fertilising an egg, as if the sperm cannot swim correctly, they will not reach the egg so the egg will not be fertilised. The Test Point Male Fertility Test also checks the motility of the sperm.
Further information on Test Point Male Fertility Test
As previously stated, the Test Point Male Fertility Test checks the concentration of sperm in the sample as well as the motility. The result of this fertility test is either a negative or a positive one:
- Positive - above 20 million motile (swimming) sperm per millilitre
- Negative - below 20 million motile (swimming) sperm per millilitre.
A unique advantage of the Test Point Male Fertility Test is that it used the whole of the semen sample to calculate its results. Other tests may only use a portion of the sample/ejaculate so could give misleading results. Another big advantage of this male fertility test is that it checks the motility as well as the concentration. You could have a situation where there are 50 million sperm per millilitre in the sample but if these are not motile or swimming, they will never reach the egg to fertilise it. In this case, the result of the male fertility test will be negative. The Test Point Male Fertility test is able to differentiate between motile or non-motile sperm, which leads to a very accurate fertility test result.
Included with this at home male fertility test are all you will need for two separate semen fertility tests. The result will appear after 90 minutes. It is recommended that the enclosed instructions are read carefully before carrying out the test. Sometimes sperm quality can vary so if an unsatisfactory result is received after using the first male fertility test, it is recommended that a second test be carried out approx. 7-10 days later.
Further information on the Male Fertility Test part of BabyStart FertilCheck Plus male and female fertility test
This single use male fertility test checks for sperm concentration in the sample used. As for the previous male fertility test, the result will either be a positive or negative one:
- Positive - sperm concentration is equal to or above 20 million sperm per millilitre
- Negative - sperm concentration is less than 20 million sperm per millilitre.
What to do if you get a low / negative result from your male fertility test?
If you get a negative or low result from your male fertility test, you should see a doctor to progress this issue.
Can I do anything to improve my sperm / negative male fertility test?
If your result is low, but is just slightly low, you may wish to try some or all of the following:
- Did you follow the instructions exactly? Please re-read the male fertility test instructions and if you realise that you did not carry out the test correctly, re-do the test.
- Was the sample used ideal? Was the sample collected then left for a while before being tested, or cooled first before being tested? If either of these issues occurred, please re-do the test.
- Do you smoke? Smoking can affect the quality of the sperm. Stop smoking altogether and then re-do the male fertility test.
- Do you drink? Alcohol can also affect the quality of sperm production so if you drink a lot, cut down and see the sperm quality improves. As a guide, drinking more than 16 units of alcohol per week may affect the quality of the sperm. 16 units would equal about 8 pints of beer or 16 regular to small glasses of wine.
- Prescription medicines and drugs - some but not all of these can affect the quality of the sperm. As before, if you consult a doctor regarding your fertility make sure to inform them what medications you are currently on or were previously on. In addition, if you take non-prescription drugs it would be advisable to stop altogether.
Inhealth, Ireland delivers all fertility tests the next day from their warehouse in Dublin.
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