Semen Analysis & Male Fertility
Male Fertility
Male fertility health issues account for up to 50% of conception difficulties.
While a semen analysis is the “gold standard” for assessing sperm quality, 25-40% of male infertility could remain “unexplained” after the analysis.
Our world-leading Andrology Lab offers cutting-edge tests to help diagnose and address these issues.
Semen Analysis
A semen analysis is a simple, noninvasive test that helps assess the quality of the sperm, checking factors like pH, volume, concentration, motility and morphology. An automated Semen Quality Analyzer is used to determine these parameters.
The test requires a semen sample, which can be taken in one of our private rooms at Beacon CARE Fertility.
Please note that the semen sample should be collected after a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 5 days of sexual abstinence.
Male Fertility
Assessment Package (€175)
Includes:
- Semen Analysis Test
- Phone call with Fertility Consultant to discuss the results
Sperm Oxidative Stress (SOS)
One factor which could be causing ‘unexplained’ infertility is Oxidative Stress. High levels of oxidative stress have been linked to poor sperm function and cell DNA damage, potentially increasing the risk of failed IVF outcomes and lower pregnancy rates.
The SOS test quickly determines if a patient has high levels of oxidative stress by assessing the balance of free radicals and antioxidants in a semen sample.
Who Should Take The SOS Test?
The SOS test may be recommended for:
- partners of women with a history of pregnancy losses
- men over 40
- those with suboptimal semen analysis results
- those with poor lifestyles, high alcohol intake, or poor dieting habits
DNA FRAGMENTATION (DFI)
Research suggests that damaged sperm DNA may indicate issues with male fertility, even if other sperm factors seem normal from a semen analysis test.
The DNA Fragmentation Test (Sperm DFI test) helps to explore male fertility issues beyond basic assessments.
What Causes DNA Fragmentation?
Damaged Sperm DNA can be linked to lifestyle elements, including smoking, alcohol consumption, recreational drug use and an inadequate diet.
Additionally, it might signal an underlying medical concern such as varicocele (a varicose vein in the scrotum) or an infection.
What Does the Test Check?
The DFI Test checks how much of the sperm DNA is damaged.
Although sperm are tiny, they carry a massive amount of genetic information to the egg. This genetic information may sustain damage and break during the journey to the egg.
ZyMōT
Colloquially speaking, ZyMōt is like an obstacle course for sperm. The test allows our Andrologists to select the best sperm for an ICSI procedure.
The ZyMōt device enables the sperm to demonstrate their motility by actively swimming through the membrane filter in the chip. The technology is designed to mimic aspects of natural conception.
ZyMōt can help improve fertilisation outcomes, especially for men who have high DNA Fragmentation where ICSI has been recommended.
Surgical Sperm Recovery
For some men, sperm is not present in the ejaculate (azoospermia). In many cases, sperm can still be retrieved through minor surgical procedures and used in IVF with ICSI.
At Beacon CARE Fertility, we offer all forms of surgical sperm recovery, including PESA, TESA, and MicroTESE (in partnership with Beacon Hospital Consultant Urologist, Dr John O Sullivan).
Sperm Cryopreservation
Sperm storage or sperm cryopreservation is a term used to define the use of male fertility preservation. Sperm is collected, typically through masturbation, and frozen in straws then stored in liquid nitrogen-filled tanks.
This has proven to be an extremely effective means of preserving sperm when combined with the appropriate storage protocols.
Who Uses Sperm Freezing?
- Cancer Patients
- Pre-Vasectomy Patients
- Military Personnel, Police Officers, Firefighters
- High Impact Athletes
- Transgender Clients
- Advancing Paternal Age
Due to the high cure rates for many types of cancer, oncology professionals are more frequently directing patients to male fertility preservation options prior to cancer treatments that could leave them infertile.
