Men who wish to determine the potency of their sperm can now do it on the high street for a fee of £150.
Today, Superdrug began offering a male fertility service’
A conventional sperm test, comparable to those previously sold at private clinics, is sent to men’s homes for a fee.
The samples are collected by couriers and transported to a laboratory where sperm is examined under a microscope.
The amount, quality, motility (how quickly and efficiently sperm can move), and volume of sperm are evaluated by doctors.
A breakdown of the results is then available within 48 hours, identical to the turnaround time for a Covid PCR test.
Men have access to Superdrug’s medical team to inquire about their test results and the recommended next measures.
According to Superdrug, this test, which it claims is the first of its kind available on the high street, will enable men to “more easily access information about their fertility and have better control over their reproductive health.
The tests, which cost £148, are available online to men. They are not in stock at stores.
Lab technicians generate a report on twenty-two parameters
These include the quantity of sperm in the sample, the mobility of the sperm, the amount of sperm contained inside the semen, and the sperm’s quality, which includes the proportion of normal and abnormal sperm.
Customers then have unrestricted access to Superdrug’s online doctors, a team of ‘highly skilled’ and General Medical Council-registered physicians who discuss test findings and answer questions on the test, results, and next steps.
If results are abnormal, the medical staff can offer guidance on how to improve sperm quality or where to find assistance to increase the likelihood of conception.
One of Superdrug’s online doctors, Dr. Babak Ashrafi, remarked that the NHS urges patients to try to conceive for a year before consulting a general practitioner.
“A year can make a difference in fertility levels, so the sooner you know, the sooner you can take action,” he said.
“This is a discreet and convenient service, and for those attempting to conceive, these test results may provide answers and point them in the proper route,” the website states.
The director of healthcare at Superdrug, Caris Newson, stated that the new fertility testing service makes it as easy as possible for men to receive guidance, assistance, and a “better-informed understanding of their fertility.”
The results, according to Superdrug, provide both the patient and the practitioner with a comprehensive grasp of the sample’s analysis and its consequences for fertility, as opposed to just determining whether the sperm count is low.
As the test is ‘similar to a World Health Organization or NHS test,’ it can be used for referrals or reviews with a reproductive doctor, the drugstore explained.
Professor Allan Pacey, an andrologist at the University of Sheffield and past chair of the British Fertility Society told that the addition of home fertility tests for males to those offered in clinics is a positive development.
He stated that the method increases the likelihood that a guy will provide a sperm sample, does not necessitate time off work, and may be more environmentally friendly due to less travel.
Clinics frequently require men to provide samples on the spot, which are then analyzed.
Professor Pacey stated that it is uncertain whether a system or testing approach will be the most effective.
He stated, “Over the years, a variety of ways to home sperm testing have been introduced, some of which are still in use and others of which have disappeared.”
I believe it to be accurate that Superdrug’s service is the first in which a courier picked up samples from a customer’s home and sent them (supposedly) to a lab.
I have no idea if this will function, yield positive test results, or be a commercial success. Time alone will tell.
The price of £148 seems comparable to what I would expect a private lab to charge for a sperm study, therefore their margins must be quite slim.
Men can receive a free sperm analysis on the NHS, but only if they and their spouse have tried unsuccessfully to conceive for a year.
It is reassuring to see that the males have unrestricted access to discuss their results with the Superdrug doctors, which is a crucial element for me.
However, I would like to know what training they have to deal with difficult male fertility concerns. Overall, I wish them well with their endeavor.’
Sperm-checking tests are currently available for approximately £30 at Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, and online. They guarantee to provide precise findings in minutes.
However, these only assess the quantity and quality of sperm.
They emphasized that any online test findings should be “carefully checked and discussed with healthcare specialists.”
Superdrug’s offering coincides with a global decline in sperm counts.
Reproductive specialists have warned that declining sperm counts pose a “threat to human life.”
Dr. Shanna Swan, an epidemiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, published a groundbreaking study in 2017 that indicated the global sperm count had decreased by more than fifty percent over the past four decades.
She warned that “everywhere chemicals” such as phthalates found in personal care products, food packaging, and children’s toys are to blame.
She stated that the chemicals induce hormonal imbalances that might lead to “reproductive devastation.”
According to scientists, pollution, smoking, and increased obesity rates may also play an effect.
