Male Fertility Tests

Fertility testing can help you understand your chances of conceiving. A male fertility test can tell you more about your sperm health, such as your sperm count and the volume of semen you produce. It will also tell you about the motility of your sperm, meaning how fast and efficiently your sperm can move.

When taking your home sperm test, you will take a sample of your sperm which is then sent to a laboratory for testing. Sperm analysis can give you information on:

• the volume of semen
• the motility of your sperm, which is how fast and efficiently your sperm can move
• the quantity of sperm, which is the concentration and total number of spermatozoa (the cells that carry a man’s genetic material)
• the quality of your sperm, telling you how many of them look normal and how many abnormal

If your test detects an abnormality, our doctors can let you know where to get further advice and support. They can also give you advice on improving your sperm quality, which can improve your chances of conceiving.

You can use a male fertility test at any time you want to know more about your fertility levels. This could be if you and your partner are planning to start or expand your family. You can also test if you are actively trying to conceive and want to know more about your sperm count and health.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make which will help you improve the health of your sperm. These include:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• quitting smoking
• lowering your alcohol intake
• exercising regularly
• consuming a balanced diet
• reducing your stress levels
• avoiding catching an STI by practising safe sex and getting regular STI checks when changing sexual partners

Male infertility can be caused by many things, including:

• poor quality semen, such as low sperm count, sperm with poor motility, or abnormal sperm
• problems with your testicles, such as an infection, injury, or a medical condition
• a vasectomy, which is where the tubes that carry your sperm are cut and sealed
• ejaculation problems
• a side effect of some medications and drugs
• erectile dysfunction (ED)
• medical conditions, such as hypogonadism which is an abnormally low level of testosterone (the hormone that is responsible for making sperm) in your body

There is not always a clear explanation for infertility. According to the NHS, around 1 in 4 cases of infertility are unexplained, which means that the cause cannot be found in either partner.

There is also evidence to suggest a general decline in men’s reproductive health. Research published by Human Reproduction Update points to a 50 to 60% decline in sperm count between the years 1973 to 2011.

There are several options available for male infertility including:

• trying to conceive regularly at a time when your partner is most fertile
• IVF (in vitro fertilisation) which involves fertilising an egg in laboratory conditions before returning it to the woman’s womb to develop
• ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) which involves injecting a single sperm into an egg to fertilise
• donor insemination (DI), which is where donor sperm is used if you have infertility issues but your partner can conceive
• medications that can improve fertility in men, such as gonadotropins for increasing testosterone levels
• surgical procedures if you have a blockage or want to remove sperm to use later
• freezing your sperm at a younger age for use in the future, if you are considering starting a family over the age of 40
• lifestyle changes, including keeping a healthy weight, stopping smoking, cutting back on alcohol and stress, and eating a healthy diet