How do I provide a semen specimen for analysis? 

ReproSource (Cash pay or Insurance) 

• If you prefer to have your insurance company cover the cost of your semen analysis, we can go through a company called ReproSource who works with Quest Diagnostic Laboratory. 
• I will send a form, which needs to be filled out by the patient's husband and sent back to me. I will submit the form to ReProSource and the  spouse will receive a semen analysis (@home collection) kit via Fed Ex, and be able to collect a specimen at home to have this testing done. 
•  A ReproSource client services representative will call the couple within 48 business hours after the order has been placed, to provide you with an overview of the process, answer questions about cost & insurance, and collect your shipping fee. If you don't hear from anyone, please call their customer service # 800-667-8893. 
• At the end of this call, the representative will send you an email with a link to online instructional videos that will review the details for using the @Home Collection supplies. 
• Next, you will receive your supplies on a date you have agreed upon. One of the items will need to be placed directly into the freezer. 
•  Within 24 hours of receiving your @Home Collection kit, you will receive your second call from a ReproSource representative. He/she will verify that you have stored the items appropriately, and he/she will answer any questions you may have about the instructional videos.
• On a day you have agreed upon, you will collect your semen speciman (the NaPro way, below), and then ship your specimen to ReproSource via FedEx using the shipping label previously provided to you. 
• You can find more details about this process by reading here.

PROVIDERS: 

• Connect with a ReProSource rep to find out how to register for an account here: clientservices@reprosource.com 

NaPro - Specimen Collection Instructions: 

• When a ReProSource rep contacts you, you can request they include a condom for collection in your kit. 
• If you wish, you can also purchase a the Male-FactorPack condom from Amazon (click the image to the left). This is a polyurethane condom which is required in order to obtain an adequate semen specimen for analysis. 
• According to the WHO (World Health Organization) and the ASRM (American Society of Reproductive Medicine) for a diagnostic SA, incl with DNA fragmentation testing, the standard is to abstain from sex for 2–7 days, 3 days is likely sufficient. Ref: The Influence of Male Ejaculatory Abstinence Time on Lve Birth Rate and  DNA Fragmentation: A Systematic Review (click the button below to view the paper).
• Your specimen will be obtained during the natural act of intercourse. 
• The condom will be punctured to allow for the natural transmission of life to permit you to adhere to Catholic/Christian moral teaching. 
• Using a clean pin, make a few small holes in the tip of the condom to permit the sexual act to remain open to life. 
• After intercourse, carefully remove the condom and transfer only the seminal fluid directly into the sterile container from the collection kit. 
• The container remains open for 45 minutes, then a solution is added. The specimen is either picked up by FedEx of the couple may transport the specimen to a FedEx site. 
• ReProSource will either send you a Fed Ex label or make arrangements for the Fed Ex pick up. It is important your specimen is mailed the same day. 

When we will we receive our results? 

• Results are sent to your medical provider in about 2-3 business days. 
• If the results of the first specimen is perfectly normal, a second specimen will not be required.  
• Whereas, if the results of the first specimen are abnormal, a second specimen will be required, which should idealy be done 4 weeks apart. 
• The reason for two specimens is because semen analyses can have a very wide degree of variability, and we would not want to make a diagnoses of "male infertility" unless we are absolutely sure. 

Most importantly, according to the American Urological Association (AUA)/American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Guidelines, entitled: Diagnosis & Treatment of Infertility in Men: ASU/ASRM Guidelines, a male who has an initial SA that is abnormal, should always have a second SA to confirm the abnormal parameters. 

I see many SAs where all parameters are perfectly normal, with only low motility/high immotile percent. Even when the SA demonstrates excellent sperm concentration, motility is an independent and important determinant of fertility potential. A few excellent publications can be viewed hereand here. 

Most notable, men who have a "triple defect" of low sperm concentrations, low percentage of normal morphology, and low percentage of motile sperm have the highest probability of infertility. 

Volume of Ejaculate: 

• Average volume of ejaculate is approximately 2 to 5 mls. 
• Absence of ejaculate or very low volume may indicate a congenital defect where the ducts that transport sperm from testes to the penis are closed or mostly closed.  
• Low volume may also indicate ejaculatory dysfunction (inability to ejaculate), frequent ejaculations in which volume is depleted. 

Sperm Concentration: 

• At a minimum, concentration of sperm is considered to be 15 million sperm per 1 ml of ejaculate. 
• Oligospermia is the diagnosis given with sperm count < 15million/ml. 
• Azoospermia is the diagnosis given if sperm are completely absent. 
• Sperm count can have a wide variability  from week to week in a single male, so for this reason, if the sperm concentration is low, the man will be asked to repeat the analysis in 2-3 weeks. 
• A concentration of 5 million sperm per 1 ml of ejaculate is considered severely low, and a repeat analysis may not likely indicate a normal sperm count. 

Sperm Morphology (Shape or Form):

• At least 4% of the sperm should be of normal morphology. 
• As noted in the image above, there are many different types of abnormal morphology of sperm.  
• Each sperm cell should have a head which contains the genetic material and a single tail that permits motility (movement of sperm). 
• There are many types of abnormal morphology, including but not limited to: large or misshapen heads, sperm with multiple heads, tails bent at > 90º, sperm with multiple tails, coiled tails and/or shortened or elongated tails. 

Sperm Motility (Movement):

• Motility can be further divided into total motility = progressive (good forward movement) + non-progressive (poor forward movement). 
• Progressive motility: sperm swims in straight lines and large circles. 
• Non-Progressive motility:  sperm swims in straight lines and tight circles. 
• Healthy sperm should have a majority of sperm with progressive (fast) motility. 
• Obviously, a high percentage of completely immotile sperm will negatively impact fertility for couples. 

OVER-THE-COUNTER SUPPLEMENTS (***to be taken under medical supervision, only)

The three supplements listed below are very reasonably priced, and in my clinical experience they often work better than the more expensive options on the market. I have seen wonderful results with improved semen analysis parameters using the following: 

• L-Carnitine 2-3 grams per day. 
• CoQ10 300 mg per day. 
• Vitamin E 400 IU per day

PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS: 

Medical providers who specialize in Male Infertility may also prescribe various type of medications. 

• Clomiphene (Clomid) 25-50 mg EOD x 3-6 mos OR 
• Letrozole 2.5 mg once daily for 3-6 mos (*off label)
• Lisinopril 2.5 mg daily

As mentioned, above, according to the American Urological Association (AUA)/American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Guidelines, entitled: Diagnosis & Treatment of Infertility in Men: ASU/ASRM Guidelines, a male who has an initial SA that is abnormal, should always have a second SA to confirm the abnormal parameters. 

The image to the Left  is a Summary SA for the spouse of one of my pts. The first two SAs were done without using supplements, and the second two SAs were after he took the three supplements listed here: 

• L-Carnitine 2-3 grams per day. 
• CoQ10 300 mg per day. 
• Vitamin E 400 IU per day

I see many SAs where all parameters are perfectly normal, with only low motility/high immotile percent. Even when the SA demonstrates excellent sperm concentration, motility is an independent and important determinant of fertility potential. A few excellent publications can be viewed hereand here. 

I would highly recommend a full physical exam with a primary care doctor along with routine laboratory testing and testicular US, which may uncover other conditions that could be contributing to male infertility. 

PHYSICAL EXAM:

• To ensure normal virilization and normal testicular size.
• To rule out a scrotal mass, such as varicocele, enlarged epididymis and/or any abnormal growth, which could indicate cancer. 
• Male Infertility doubles the risk for testicular cancer.
• Varicoceles (enlarged veins) are present in 4.4% to 22.6% of the general male population. They are present in 21% to 41% in men with primary infertility and present in in 75% to 81% in men with secondary infertility.
• Varicoceles on the LEFT side are more easily palpated on exam. Whereas, RIGHT-sided varicoceles are often missed.

*** See open access publications below.
 

IMAGING:

• A testicular ultrasound is a very reasonable and worthwhile test to rule out a varicocele for the male who has a spouse who has been unable to get pregnant. 
• According to the AUA Guidelines, a testicular US should only be done if a varicocele can be palpated by the urologist on a testicular exam. The reasoning behind this is that the AUA believe the research does not show improved pregnancy outcomes when very small varicoceles have been repaired. 
• Most NaPro providers believe there may be a benefit to removing even small varicoceles. For this reason, it may be more prudent to ask a Primary Care Doctor to order a testicular US, and allow your NaPro provider to review these results.
   

LABORATORY TESTING:

• Routine health labs: CBC, CMP, TSH, HbA1C, lipid panel, and Vit D levels are considered baseline health labs. 
• AM testosterone and FSH levels can also be considered if the primary care doctor is amenable to this. 
• If FSH is elevated (> 12 IU/L),  primary testicular failure is present and testosterone is likely also going to be low.
• If FSH is elevated and/or testosterone is low, the provider may wish to repeat an AM testosterone and add LH, estradiol, prolactin and TSH to check pituitary function. 
• If FSH is low normal or low, testosterone will likely also be low and a "secondary testicular failure" would be suspected. Thus, the problem is likely at the level of the pituitary. The provider may wish to repeat the AM testosterone and add LH, estradiol, prolactin and TSH.

***Please have all records from your spouse's evaluation sent to me, if your wife is a patient I am seeing through MyCatholicDoctor, the FAX# is (844) 689-5311.