Male fertility and Fertell

How can male fertility be assessed?
Male fertility may be related to a number of factors including:

• sperm count - there needs to be a high enough concentration of sperm so that sufficient sperm survive the acidity of the vagina and reach the egg
• sperm motility - the sperm need to be strong enough swimmers and be able to swim forward to be able to get through the cervical mucus to reach, penetrate and fertilise the egg
• sperm morphology - abnormally shaped sperm often also have poor motility which compromises their ability to reach and penetrate the egg
• antisperm antibodies - sperm are protected from the immune system by the blood-testes barrier. If an injury breaches this barrier, then the immune system has access to sperm and antibodies are formed. Antisperm antibodies (ASA) have been reported in approximately 10 per cent of infertile men, compared to less than 1 per cent of fertile men

Why is the availability of the male fertility test important?

• Fertell allows men to assess their potential fertility rapidly and in the comfort and privacy of their own home
• A result indicating lower than normal concentration of motile sperm provides a potential warning sign so that he can seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity

How reliable is the Fertell male fertility test?

The Fertell male fertility test has been shown to be more than 95 per cent compared to established laboratory tests run in fertility clinics.

An evaluation of the male test conducted by Professor Chris Barratt at the University of Birmingham has been published in Human Reproduction: Development of a novel home sperm test