Innovation is changing diagnostics. The proliferation of at-home testing is disrupting and, in most cases, improving the way important health needs are met.
However, as with all disruptive innovations, not all solutions are as reliable, rigorously tested or responsibly marketed as expected or required. As a result, home diagnostics has received negative attention in recent years.
When it comes to home fertility testing for men, there are several options: some provide accurate, reliable, and clinically actionable results, increasing the convenience of patients and physicians alike, while others provide incomplete, inaccurate, or unreliable information. Are you aware of your own fertility? In this article, we explore the challenges of traditional fertility testing, possible causes of temporary infertility, the benefits of responsible, accurate fertility testing for men at home, and how, when, and where you as a consumer can purchase your test.
The more you know about your fertility, the more action you can take.
Traditional Male Fertility Tests
The case for male fertility testing
Male infertility is often overlooked in discussions about reproductive health, even though it accounts for up to 50% of all infertility cases worldwide.
In the Western world, sperm counts have halved over the last 50 years (1), with the decline accelerating. Environmental factors, lifestyle choices and stress are among the main drivers of this trend (2). A recent study even showed that fertility is an indicator of life expectancy. It was found that men with more than 120 million motile sperm lived approximately three years longer than those with <5 million motile sperm (3).
Despite these alarming statistics, male fertility testing remains underutilized, with much of the burden of testing falling on women.
Challenges and barriers for men
Traditionally, male fertility testing has relied on semen analysis in the clinic, a process fraught with inconvenience, inconvenience and embarrassment for the man. These obstacles often result in testing being delayed or avoided, leaving many fertility issues unaddressed.
Due to geographic location, financial constraints, and demand, there is a disparity in care and testing options that may discourage individuals from seeking treatment at remote facilities for their initial evaluation.
Additionally, traditional semen analysis is reserved for people who are directly struggling with fertility issues. However, we do know that it can be used as an indicator of broader health status or to understand the impact of possible temporary infertility due to injury or sexually transmitted diseases.
Infertility: Causes and Improvements
Many lifestyle, medical and environmental factors can significantly affect male fertility by affecting sperm motility, morphology and concentration or causing temporary infertility.
- Chronic stress disrupts hormonal balance, which can lead to reduced sperm production and quality.
- Infections – both sexually transmitted infections (STIs) And Urinary tract infections (UTIs) – can inflame or block the reproductive tract, impairing sperm transport, leading to temporary or lifelong infertility. For example, chlamydia can lead to reduced sperm quality and gonorrhea can lead to sperm constipation. In many cases, these effects are resolved by treating the STI or urinary tract infection.
- Supplementsparticularly those containing unregulated anabolic steroids or high doses of certain vitamins can suppress natural testosterone production and impair sperm development.
- Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) often suppresses the body’s sperm production by reducing other important fertility hormone levels that are essential for sperm production.
- Alcohol, smoking and vaping can introduce toxins that damage sperm DNA and impair motility.
- Poor diet – especially those low in antioxidants and high in processed foods – can increase oxidative stress and affect sperm health.
On the positive side, the short life cycle of sperm (around 3 months) means that poor sperm health can often be improved with drastic lifestyle changes. However, you need to know if it affects you.
Benefits of Home Fertility Testing for Men
Giving patients choices
Home testing (assuming a comprehensive and reliable test is performed) can offer several key advantages over traditional fertility testing methods:
- Advanced access: Patients can complete the tests at home, eliminating barriers of location, time or stigma and encouraging greater participation in fertility assessments.
- Early intervention: Reduced barriers and comfort allow for earlier testing and identification of potential problems. This is particularly beneficial for men, as in many cases suboptimal semen analysis results can be improved quickly (3–4 months) through simple lifestyle changes (4).
- Comprehensive and accurate results: Complete semen analysis results with validated performance within the accepted variant of personal semen analysis (WHO Guidelines for Semen Analysis, 6th Edition). Note: Many home use products provide limited results or have significant variations in reported results compared to on-site analysis, so careful selection is critical.
- Peace of mind: If there are concerns for any reason, a home test can give you peace of mind without having to go to a clinic.
Limitations of Home Fertility Testing
As with any home diagnostics, there are still some challenges:
- Patient education: To maintain the accuracy of results, it is important to ensure that patients understand proper sample collection and handling.
- Cultural barriers: Social stigma and misconceptions surrounding male fertility testing may deter some people from using the service.
- Sample deterioration: Despite preservation, very poor samples can deteriorate too much, resulting in the sample being unable to be processed. In these cases, personal analysis is likely required.
- Identification of useful tests: Some products are not reliable or accurate at-home tests. It is important to check the company’s credentials and determine whether the product in question is a registered medical device and whether the people and laboratory carrying out the analysis have appropriate qualifications and accreditations.
Diploma
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, are simply curious, or want peace of mind after an STI diagnosis, a home fertility test can give you convenient insight into your fertility health and beyond.
Are you a man and want to find out more about your fertility? Order your home test today.
