Fertility Testing (Male)
When it comes to infertility, women usually take most of the responsibility.
Yet, did you know that male infertility rates are equal to female infertility rates? 30% of all infertility issues are male-related, and 30% are female-related. That means that it’s just as possible for men to be infertile as women. If you’re a male that wants to have children in the future or is having trouble conceiving, you may want to get a male fertility test.
Male fertility testing is easy and painless. Find out where to get tested, how testing works, and what happens to sperm after it’s collected and tested.
Causes of Male Infertility
The most common causes of male infertility include:
Abnormal sperm size and shape
Anti-sperm antibodies
Blockage
Ejaculation issues
Irregular sperm concentration
Low low sperm count
Low sperm production
Medical history of cancer
Retrograde ejaculation
Testicle trauma
Varicocele
Vasectomy
Benefits of Getting Tested for Male Infertility
Infertility test kits provide a long list of benefits for men who may want to have children now or in the future.
These kits allow you to understand any fertility challenges you may have now (or face in the future) and they also provide important services, including storage and live help support. Some of the most common benefits of getting tested for male infertility include:
Discovering any fertility issues
Storing your sperm
Using your sperm for artificial insemination, IVF, or donation
Making lifestyle changes to become more fertile
Discover Any Fertility Issues
The main benefit of getting a male fertility test is finding out if you have any fertility issues. Not only do these providers collect samples and store them for future use, but they can also test your sperm for any irregularities.
Most fertility test kit providers test for sperm count, motility, size and shape, concentration, and volume.
These metrics offer fertility data. You’ll discover if you have any fertility issues and the treatment options available. You’ll receive a report explaining your sperm testing results and be able to speak to a healthcare specialist who will explain any issues.
Store Your Sperm
Instead of submitting a sample for analysis and a sample for future use, you can simply submit one sample for testing and storage.
There are plenty of reasons why men choose to store their sperm. Many men know they won’t be able to father children through sexual intercourse and may need to store their sperm to use via artificial insemination or in vitro.
Some men anticipate traveling overseas or being deployed in the military and don’t want to take any chances when it comes to future fertility. Others are about to undergo a vasectomy or treatment for testicular diseases, such as cancer, and want to keep a few samples of healthy sperm for possible future use.
Use Your Sperm
Most male infertility and storage providers partner with doctors across the country. Simply tell the lab you need your sperm sample if you’re planning on opting for in vitro, artificial insemination, or another form of doctor-assisted family planning.
This is also ideal for men that want to father a child without a female partner.
Make Lifestyle Changes
Some of the most common causes of male infertility include lifestyle factors. While it isn’t possible to reverse all male infertility (including issues caused by trauma), there are some changes you can make that might increase your odds of having children in the future.
Many men make such lifestyle changes as:
Drinking less alcohol
Avoiding pollutants and environmental factors
Eating nutritious foods, exercising more, and taking supplements
Benefits of At-Home Male Infertility Testing Kits
There are plenty of reasons that men choose to order at-home male fertility kits instead of heading to an in-person provider. The most common reasons include:
Cost
Convenience
Availability
Comfort
Less Expensive Than In-Person Testing
Most at-home male fertility kits cost less than in-person testing services. This is because at-home kits remove the cost of brick-and-mortar locations. Since all services provided at sperm collection sites can be performed remotely, this cuts down on staffing and facility costs.
More Comfortable Than In-Person Testing
When you head to an in-person testing facility, you’ll end up depositing your sample in a room where hundreds (or thousands) of other men have done so, too.
At-home male infertility test kits allow you to provide a sample in the comfort of your own home. With these test kits, you won’t need to travel far and wide to get to a facility. You also won’t need to wear a paper gown, ejaculate into a cup while sitting in a room lit by fluorescent lightbulbs, or even chat face-to-face with hospital staff.
Simply order your test kit, provide your sample when you’re ready, and ship your kit back to the provider. This option is also ideal for anyone who is mobility-impaired or men concerned about contracting COVID.
Available to Anyone in the U.S.
One of the biggest downsides to traveling to in-person male fertility clinics is that you need to travel to an in-person clinic. If you live in a city, this may mean taking public transportation or driving in traffic.
If you live in an extremely rural area of the U.S., this may mean commuting to a facility that is hours away and possibly staying overnight at a hotel room before making the trip back home. Even if you happen to live near a facility, it may not be the facility you want to store your sample.
At-home infertility test kits and storage services simply provide more options when it comes to getting your sample tested and stored.
Types of Male Fertility Test Kits
There are usually three types of male fertility test kits. Most men want to use this service to both test their fertility as well as store their samples for future use.
If you only want to test your sperm sample, you simply need to order a fertility testing kit (without a storage plan). If you’re planning on using your sample, you’ll need to purchase a plan that includes storage.
Companies like Dadi provide both semen analysis and storage for up to one year in all of their testing and storage packages.
Fertility Testing
Fertility testing kits usually include one year of sample storage. Many men want to get their samples tested yet aren’t ready to have a child. This level of storage includes storage for up to three sperm vials.
IVF Planning
If you’re planning on doing in vitro fertilization (IVF), you’ll want to store a little extra sperm. This level of storage includes storage for up to six vials of sperm and two at-home collection kits. It also includes up to one year of storage.
Family Planning
Family planning storage includes everything in the IVF planning package (including analysis and storage), and it also includes three collection kits as well as storage for up to nine vials of semen for up to one year.
How Do At-Home Male Fertility Test Kits Work?
Male fertility test kits are easy to use. All of your data is securely saved and never shared. All you need to do is order a kit, follow the instructions, mail back your sample, and get your results.
You can feel safe knowing your sample is stored in a state-of-the-art facility, and it will be available for you to use whenever you’re ready.
Order Your Kit
If you’re worried about your fertility, normal sperm counts, or motility issues, you may want to order a male infertility test kit to understand any issues. You may also want to store your sperm for future (or more immediate) use.
Simply order your male infertility test kit from the provider. Most companies send test kits within a few days. Your kit will come with instructions and all the equipment you need to collect your sample and send back your sample to the provider.
Follow the Instructions
Simply follow the instructions in the test kit to collect your sample and send it back to the provider.
Most at-home male infertility test kits are similar to in-person sample collection kits. The kit comes with a collection cup and a temperature-controlled case to hold your sample. Simply ejaculate into the collection cup and follow the instructions to package your sample and send it back to the testing and storage company.
Mail Your Sample
Mail your sperm sample to the lab using the equipment and by following the provided instructions.
It’s important to follow the instructions and to ship the kit back to the provider using the provided cup and packaging. It generally takes less than 24 hours for your kit to arrive at the lab (you can track your kit online) thanks to overnight shipping.
All testing kits are secure and easy to use. Depending on the sperm testing and storage provider, you may not need to worry about sperm refrigeration, pouring, or spilling.
Get Tested
The lab will do a semen analysis and test for abnormalities, sperm count (number of sperm in semen sample), motility, concentration, and volume within 24 hours of receiving your sperm.
You’ll usually get your sperm report within 48 hours of sending it. The report is easy to read and understand. You’ll also be able to see how your sperm stacks up to that of sperm all over the world (according to World Health Organization data).
If you need any help in understanding the data, you can always chat with a fertility specialist or urologist about treatment options.
Store Your Sperm
Most test kits also include up to a year’s worth of free storage (though, this really depends on the test kit provider).
Many men decide to store their sperm for different reasons. Some men want to use their sperm samples for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Some want to donate their samples to other couples, and some men simply want to wait to have children.
If you’re being deployed overseas or if you’re traveling to areas that have a high risk of Zika transmission, you may want to store your sperm for future use (especially if you want to have children within six months to a year of arriving back home).
Samples are stored in state-of-the-art facilities that value safety and security over all else. The entire process is completely confidential, so you never need to worry about your privacy.