Home sperm tests?

[dvm2004]

So my OH took a home sperm test last night for the heck of it. It was one that told you yes your counts are okay or no. His came back no, <20 mil/ml. We are both upset.

Anyone tried these and are they accurate? I know there is a lot more to it than just that but as of right now I don't see him agreeing to go to doc to have official one done just yet. So basically all in all this was just stupid and is making me stress even more cause I'm not gunna have definitive answers for who knows how long.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[FredsBaby]

How exactly does that test work? Is it almost like taking a pregnancy test but for a guy? I'm curious myself to know if they work. My DH refuses to go to the doctor to get checked because he has kids from previous marriages and he wouldn't do this at home test either. It really stresses me out as well. Does anyone out there know how accurate these are?

 

[StephieB]

We did do one of these prior to going to the GP after TTC for around 11 months before the real thing, as DH said he didn't want any 'shocks'. We did the fertility score.

I don't know how, and I have no idea how accurate they are, probably not too accurate in honestly, but they are meant to measure the sperm concentration and sperm motility and then turn different colours depending on the outcome. I've read they do this by 'dying' the active sperm, which gives the differences in colour.

Please remember though that our little swimmers are made on a cycle of about 90days, so just because your OH got a low score this time, doesn't necessarily mean it will be low next time. If he's not comfortable going to the GP wait a few months and maybe try another? There could be a number of factors which have caused a 'low' result this time around.

Again, I wouldn't put all of your faith in these tests and I didn't believe it until a doctor confirmed with a SA, but thats because I don't have 100% trust in something I order from Amazon, but if its all your OH feels comfortable doing then I'd say give them another go.

 

[dvm2004]

Thanks everyone! I'm trying to get him to listen to me about it. He's so upset. Like his ego is shot or something.

 

[dvm2004]

And yes, the one we got was like a preg test for a guy. Two pink lines meant your ok, only one meant your count was below 20 mil and they recommend further follow up.

 

[airotciv]

My husband had a sperm test done at the hospital and only had 210 sperm in the 2ml sample! 20 million would seem amazing right now xxx

 

[No Doubt]

I wouldn't put too much stock into it, but I also don't know how accurate those are. What I will say is that it's not all about the count if that is any encouragement to him all. If he has good everything else, or at least mostly everything else, a lot of docs feel like a low count really isn't a big issue. My hubby has a low count, but his morphology, motility, etc is excellent. So she doesn't really feel like it's a huge issue...still not preggo yet, but I also have PCOS coupled with an underactive thyroid. So maybe try to explain it to him from that perspective. Also if you guys live close to the doc or the lab, most doctors will allow them do the SA from home as long as they get it there within 30 mins. My hubbs hates doing the SAs and IUIs at the lab...just really uncomfortable with it. Luckily we are literally like 5mins from our SA so they gave him a cup and said he could do it from home.