Many women blame themselves for not being able to get pregnant, but forget that on the other side of the fertility coin is the man! For a baby to be conceived, both the man and woman need to be in perfect reproductive health. That’s why keeping up to date with your fertility status is essential!
Today, about 40% of fertility problems come from the man’s side. Following the idea of home fertility tests, there’s now a big new release on the market. The semen test has come to offer convenience to men who are afraid, embarrassed, or think they’re too macho to have fertility problems1.
Doing a sperm analysis2 is not always an easy task and can be embarrassing for the ‘tough guy’ image that society has created. This test guarantees anonymity, and that could be a great solution for couples in which the man refuses to undergo any procedure to check his fertility.
Although it’s not as comprehensive as a sperm analysis, the semen test offers satisfactory efficiency for the cost-benefit and for being performed in the comfort and privacy of your home. The result comes out in up to 15 minutes!
We can consider the effectiveness higher than 98% in some brands such as Spermcheck. In principle, the home sperm test detects the amount of sperm in the ejaculation per milliliter. That is, the result will be positive if the semen shows about 20 million sperm per milliliter.
This detection is possible thanks to a strip reagent that captures the protein enzyme present in every sperm. However, quality and morphology cannot be determined with these home tests. For that, a conventional sperm analysis is necessary.
But the home sperm test is an excellent option to assess quantity! We can conclude that this kind of male fertility test determines whether the man has a sufficient amount of gametes or not, and that’s a great start.
How to Do a Home Sperm Analysis?
The appearance of the male fertility test is similar to ovulation tests. In most cases, a pen-like device, like those already on the market, works effectively.
To do the home sperm analysis, you need to collect the ejaculate through masturbation and place it in a container with a lid. The material can be used for up to 5 hours after ejaculation under favorable conditions, without direct contact with air. Air exposure could damage the quality of the sample to be analyzed.
Before placing the semen in the test device, it is advised to shake the container 10 times. After shaking the sample, use a dropper to collect the material and place it on the test strip. The time required by most brands on the market is up to 15 minutes for reading the result.
Check the instructions of your chosen brand for the recommended timing. Two lines on the test indicate a positive result, regardless of how dark the lines are, similar to HCG pregnancy tests. Only one line means there are fewer than 20 million sperm per milliliter present in the collected sample.
If the test is negative, that does not mean the man is infertile, but that he should seek help to investigate what is preventing sperm production or limiting the sperm count.
If the couple wants a more accurate result, the man needs to have a sperm analysis to assess the quality of the sperm, even if the home test is positive.
What Are the Brands and How and Where to Buy a Semen Test?
In Brazil, there are still few national brand options on the market, but one of them is Famivita, which created the Male Fertility Test: a fast and efficient test that detects the number of sperm in semen. Now, with the option of home tests, it’s easier for couples to focus their efforts and have a better chance of getting a positive result. After all, being aware of your health conditions and knowing the limits of your fertility are essential for those trying to conceive. The wait for pregnancy can be much more stressful than you might think. So remember: the semen test does not replace the sperm analysis, but it helps a lot in diagnosing possible male infertility. It’s worth trying! Also see: How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant Naturally?
