Home Fertility Test for Men: SpermCheck Kit

In the United States 7.3 people and 80 million worldwide affected by infertility. April 24 - May 1, 2010 the National Infertility Awareness Week NIAW) informs and educates people regarding the topic of infertility (For more information contact: RESOLVE - The National Infertility Association - 703 - 556 - 7172) 3 The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recognizes infertility as a disease. 4 Approximately half of the time, infertility traced primarily to a male's low sperm count (oligospermia 2), besides other factors 1: No sperm (azoospermia 2), obesity, smoking, alcoholism, frequent intercourse, fatigue, heat, and side effect related to taking medication. 2 Soon to be available, affordable SpermCheck a home test kit analyzes a man's sperm count, providing a status of fertility or infertility. 5

According to semen analysis ("evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained in the semen." 6) a normal sperm count should be 20 million. Sperm count less than 20 million considered to be a low sperm count. "No sperm at all is called azoospermia." Besides sperm count for evaluating male fertility, important sperm mobility, be more than 40 percent of sperm. "On a scale of 1 - 4, at least 2+ should be moving forward." Semen analysis also examines sperm morphology: A sperm is characterized by having only one normal head and one tail. Normal male fertility observes at least 30 percent of sperm has normal characteristics. Fertility specialists assess lessens the normal sperm characteristics for male fertility at least fourteen percent. 7

ContraVac a charlottessvile, Virgina based male reproductive healthcare corporation (Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health at the University of Virginia, directed by ContraVac's founder, Dr. John Herr, Ph.D) will soon make available for distribution (5): Home SpermCheck Fertility device to check for male sperm count. Expected the device will first be available for sale in Europe and subsequently upon Food and Drug Administration approval, for marketing in the United States.Dr. John Herr said: "the product will be retail for about $25. That's a lot cheaper than going in and having a full semen analysis." 8 According to clinical testing of 225 semen samples analyzed, the SpermCheck Fertility accurately predicted more than 96 percent correct semen count: Normal, low or very low. 9

Funded by the National Institute of Health, Dr. Herr and his colleagues discovered an antigen on the surface of the head of a sperm cell (SP-10). Incorporating their discovery, the SpermCheck Fertility test device was produced. 8 The device requires collecting 100 microliters of semen (been resting for 20 minutes) using a pipette ("A pipette is a glass tube used for delivery of a specific volume of a solution." 10). The semen is mixed with a buffer (detergent substance), which discharges the SP-10 protein from the sperm. "User then put a few drops of the mix into the two sample wells. Within seven minutes, the test results will appear in test windows above the wells." 11 Advisable to retake the test for a low sperm count evaluation a few days later, verify the initial test results were accurate. 5 If the test result confirm a low sperm count (both strips are negative) (or sperm count below five million sperm per millilitre 12) a comprehensive clinical or physician consultation is recommended. 9

SpermCheck Fertility test may provide a false negative result, if the man was exposed to scalding hot water soaking in a bathtub, prior to taking the test. Other factors that may influence the device test result: Frequent intercourse, obesity (Sagging layers of fat can overheat the testicles), excessive alcohol drinking, fatigue, smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day, and side effects related to taking medication and chemotherapy. 2

References:

1.) Ez Fertility - Male infertility - http://www.ez-fertility.co.nz/male_infertility.html

2.) MaleFertility.md - Low Sperm Count or No Sperm - http://www.malefertility.md/low-sperm-count.html

3.) National Infertility AWARENESS WEEK - https://secure2.convio.net/res/site/SPageServer?pagename=evt_niaw09_home

4.) divine caroline - National Infertility Awareness Week - http://www.divinecaroline.com/22094/72954-national-infertility-awareness-week

5.) SpermCheck Fertility - http://www.contravac.com/products/spermcheck/fertility.php#

6.) Semen analysis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semen_analysis

7.) Male Factor Infertility Testing: Sperm Test - http://infertility-causes.suite101.com/article.cfm/checking_for_male_factor_infertility

8.) Home fertility test for men set to arrive in stores - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100226/lf_nm_life/us_fertility_1

9.) SpermCheck Fertility, an immunodiagnostic home test that detects norozoospermia and severe oligozoospermia - http://lasalud.com/noticias/js/noved.htm?cod_esp=5&cod_nov=439987&web=s_buscador

10.) Pipette - http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipette

11.) Test allows men to check sperm count at home - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35586617/ns/health-mens_health/

12.) Home Fertility test for men - http://www.news24.com/Content/SciTech/News/1132/d886d09277cc416b97aa7a0c97177583/26-02-2010-04-09/Home_fertility_test_for_men