UCSF Expert Applauds At-Home Male Fertility Kit

Now that the UK has approved the sale of an over-the-counter male fertility kit, can the US be far behind?

Hard to predict, says UCSF urologist and infertility expert Paul Turek. "The idea of an at-home fertility monitor for semen quality is not new," he says. But despite successful clinical testing in Europe and some product marketing in the US, the Food and Drug Administration remains reticent.

Paul Turek

Official approval aside, Turek believes the methodology used to evaluate sperm count is scientifically sound. The one-hour test works by measuring the number of sperm in a semen sample that swim through a barrier. If the sperm count registers above a certain number, the test reads "red," or positive. Problems come in interpreting those results, says Turek. "While I think it would be great if men who were trying to conceive used such a product, semen analysis by any method correlates only poorly with actual fertility." Still, there are benefits, chief among them that truly infertile men will learn of their condition sooner and seek the care they need. "In 1 to 10 percent of cases, infertility can be a symptom of an occult disease," Turek explains. Source: Jeff Miller Links: Male Fertility Kit Goes on Sale