A home sperm test can tell whether sperm are present in semen. Some at-home tests also check how well sperm can move. For a home sperm test, you collect a semen sample by ejaculating into a small cup. A home sperm test may be appealing because you can do it in the privacy of your own home.
There is no accurate way to determine the exact sperm count without a proper and full-fledged semen analysis! Sorry to disappoint, but that is the absolute truth!.
First, doctors will request a semen analysis – a test to look at your sperm. You ejaculate into a cup, and your sperm will be analyzed under a microscope. To get the best results, do not ejaculate for two to five days before your visit.
The main sign of low sperm count is the inability to conceive a child. There might be no other obvious signs or symptoms.
Sperm health is assessed by measuring 3 things: your sperm count, how your sperm move and their shape. If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, your doctor may recommend a sperm test, known as semen analysis.
One of the main issues that commonly affect a man's fertility is the quantity and the quality of their semen. This means that testing your semen should be one of the first things you do if you suspect you are having problems with your fertility as a man. Semen testing usually takes place in a clinal laboratory.
Causes of male infertility
These may include: Abnormal sperm production or function due to undescended testicles, genetic defects, health problems such as diabetes, or infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps or HIV. Enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele) also can affect the quality of sperm.
Best for Fast Results Labcorp Men's Rapid Fertility Test
The FDA-approved test arrives at your door with everything you need to successfully self-test and understand the results. Labcorp's Men's Rapid Fertility test allows the user to collect and get a quick semen analysis in minutes, without ever leaving home.
If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives like clockwork, it's likely that you'll ovulate on day 14. That's halfway through your cycle. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You're more likely to get pregnant if you have sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Fruits and veggies
A study of 250 men who had sperm analyzed at a fertility clinic showed that men who ate higher amounts of fruits and veggies, particularly green leafy vegetables and beans (legumes), had higher sperm concentrations and better sperm motility compared to men who ate less of these foods.
Book a semen analysis
If you are not currently an IVFAustralia patient, you can ask your GP for a referral to IVFAustralia for a semen analysis. IVFAustralia runs semen analysis services at its clinics in Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle and Canberra by appointment.
There was a good correlation in both Group A (r = 0.86, P less than 0.01) and Group B (r = 0.92, P less than 0.01) between values for the 'Water-test' and those for the Eosin-Y test. These results indicate that the 'Water-test' is a simple and reliable test for evaluating sperm membrane integrity.
The YO Sperm Test uses an app and a mini-microscope "clip" that goes on the top of your phone, allowing the device to access your phone's light, focus and recording capabilities.
All of the at home test kits appear to be about 95-97 percent accurate compared to the results of using the standard semen analysis testing in the laboratory.
Men start losing their fertility at age 40.
In a study of more than 1,900 couples, irrespective of the woman's age, IVF attempts involving men 40 or older failed 70 percent more often than IVF attempts involving men younger than 30. Previous theory: Older men produce fewer kids because they get less sex.
excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and using drugs such as marijuana or cocaine. certain medications, including testosterone replacement therapy, long-term anabolic steroid use, cancer medications (chemotherapy), some antibiotics and some antidepressants. being overweight or obese.
The concentration of sperm is what makes the semen cloudy and thick, so if your ejaculate is watery it is possible that you have a low sperm count. This doesn't mean you're infertile (so precautions to prevent pregnancy still need to be taken for couples that don't want to get pregnant).
Signs and symptoms you may notice include: Problems with sexual function — for example, difficulty with ejaculation or small volumes of fluid ejaculated, reduced sexual desire, or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction) Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area. Recurrent respiratory infections.
Some men have no sperm in their semen at all. This is known as azoospermia (ay-zoh-uh-SPUR-me-uh). There are many factors involved in reproduction, and the number of sperm in your semen is only one. Some men with low sperm counts successfully father children.
Medication can treat some issues that affect male fertility, including hormone imbalances and erectile dysfunction. Surgery can be effective for repairing blockages in the tubes that transport sperm. Surgery can also be used for repair of varicocele.
Normal healthy sperm ranges in color from a transparent to a grayish white, while unhealthy sperm can often appear yellow-green or off-white. Additionally healthy sperm typically has a smooth oval shape, whereas unhealthy sperm may be curved or have abnormal shapes.
“Sperm health is important for male fertility, as healthy sperm are better able to fertilize an egg and create a viable pregnancy,” Elist says. Quantity matters, too. “A man with good sperm health will have a large quantity of sperm per ejaculation, strong movement and a regular shape,” said Paulvin.
Abnormal Smell
If your sperm and semen have a fishy or foul smell and their color changes into brown, red, green or yellow, you must have an infection which always occurs at the prostate gland or other organs of male productive system. This is definitely abnormal and you should see a doctor to get tested and treated.