With home fertility testing kits becoming increasingly popular, it is important to understand their benefits and limitations. Here’s when to opt for an at-home sperm test and when you should reach out to a fertility expert for a full semen analysis.

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If a couple is experiencing infertility (typically defined as 6 to 12 months of unsuccessful attempts to conceive, depending on age), a formal semen analysis should be obtained for an accurate assessment of male fertility.

The good news: Most semen analyses can be performed on sperm samples produced at home and dropped off at a fertility clinic or laboratory, so the comfort level of an “at home” test can still be maintained with most formal male fertility evaluations. 

There are various types of tests, the simplest of which (i.e. SpermCheck) measures only the concentration of sperm cells. A colored line is generated on the test which is either positive or negative for this minimal amount of sperm.

More advanced home tests, like YO, use cell phones or computers to capture sperm videos for an assessment of both the concentration and motility of the sperm. These are more expensive tests and sometimes more complicated to use.

Understandably, the convenience and privacy of at-home fertility tests make this form of fertility evaluation more appealing to many men. However, at-home sperm tests do have their limitations. Let’s talk about what they can (and can’t) tell us.

Male fertility testing kits are a simple way to identify if there is a severely low sperm count which would require follow-up with a more formal semen analysis.

But while at-home sperm tests can screen for some common fertility issues, they don’t provide a complete analysis and cannot diagnose the underlying cause of any potential problems.

At-home male fertility tests can be less expensive than a formal semen analysis, but they should not replace a more comprehensive, accurate assessment if a couple is having trouble conceiving. In contrast, a complete semen analysis looks at many other factors that can affect male fertility in addition to sperm count. 

If you have been trying to conceive without success for more than 6 to 12 months, have underlying health issues or simply want to get a full and complete picture of your baseline fertility, find a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and schedule a consultation.

Your doctor will then discuss any concerns with you before proceeding with a fertility assessment. Let’s break down everything a semen analysis entails so you know exactly what to expect.

Note: While the following information is specific to Illume Fertility, the experience at most other fertility clinics should be similar.

The laboratory wing of our practice has individual patient rooms where we will provide you with all the necessary materials to collect a sperm sample. This provides each patient with the privacy they need, while also making it convenient to pass samples directly to an Andrology Lab team member upon completion. 

Your andrologist will provide instructions and answer any questions you have.

The cost of a semen analysis really depends on your insurance coverage. If your insurance does not cover any part of the analysis, your Insurance & Billing Advocate will discuss out-of-pocket pricing with you, which is typically around $160 without insurance.

Keep in mind, both morphology and motility are factors in male infertility because they impair the sperm’s ability to reach and fertilize an egg. 

Morphology refers to the size, shape and appearance of the sperm.

Motility refers to the ability of sperm to move efficiently and properly.

For some men, treating an infection, undergoing varicocele repair or hormone replacement therapy can resolve the problem. In more complex cases, assisted reproductive technologies like intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) can help overcome male fertility issues and help a couple achieve pregnancy. 

If sperm abnormalities are detected, the semen analysis can be repeated in four to six weeks to determine if they are permanent or temporary. If the semen analysis is normal, your doctor will probably recommend a thorough testing of your female partner (if applicable) before considering additional male fertility tests.

Note: If discernible cause is discovered, a couple may be diagnosed with unexplained infertility, and there are still many treatment options available to help!

However, any abnormal test results or an extended period of infertility should prompt further evaluation by a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist. Also, keep in mind that false positives and false negatives (as well as user error) can occur with at-home tests, making them less reliable than formal testing.

The bottom line? At-home sperm tests should never replace a comprehensive male fertility evaluation if you are experiencing difficulty conceiving.

If you’re unsure about where to start, we encourage you to reach out to our experienced team of men’s fertility experts for personalized guidance about what your next steps should be.