REQUIREMENTS REGARDING THE SEMEN ANALYSIS
- A 2 - 4 day's period of sexual abstinence before performing the semen analysis is important.
- Semen should ideally be produced by masturbation. Condoms are toxic to sperm and coitus interrupts may lead to contamination by vaginal germs.
- The semen must be collected in a sterile pathology laboratory bottle.
- The specimen should be produced at the laboratory or should be brought to the laboratory for analysis within 30 minutes if produced elsewhere.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE SEMEN ANALYSIS:
It takes about 10 - 12 weeks from the initiation of new sperm formation for fully mature sperm to appear in the ejaculate. During this period sperm are very easily adversely affected by conditions such as stress, fever, hard work and minor health disturbances.
Your doctor must therefore consider any significant events in your history as far back as three months before the semen analysis.
Most experts recommend that men undergoing infertility evaluation have three separate analyses performed with at least 4 weeks in between analyses.
If a meaningful problem persists your doctor will probably refer you to an "urologist" or an infertility clinic for further evaluation and treatment.