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Male Fertility Testing Before Trying for a Baby

Male Fertility Testing Before Trying for a Baby

by Francesca Steyn in Posts

If you and your partner are thinking about starting a family, there's a good chance your focus has been on her side of the equation. But male fertility accounts for a significant portion of conception difficulties, and a quick sperm check before you start trying can give you both a much clearer picture, and a head start.

Why Male Fertility Gets Overlooked at the Pre-Conception Stage

For most couples, fertility conversations tend to centre on ovulation tracking, prenatal vitamins, and lifestyle changes aimed at women. Male fertility rarely gets the same attention, despite the fact that male factors are involved in roughly half of all cases where a couple has difficulty conceiving, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The good news is that checking your sperm health is straightforward. You do not need a GP referral or a fertility clinic appointment to get started. An at-home semen analysis gives you an accurate baseline picture of your sperm count, movement, and shape, measured against the same WHO reference values used by clinicians.

What Does a Male Fertility Test Actually Check?

A semen analysis is the standard first step in assessing male fertility. It measures several key parameters including:

Sperm count (concentration): The number of sperm per millilitre of semen. The WHO 2021 reference value is 16 million/mL or above.

Total sperm count: The total number of sperm in the whole ejaculate, with a reference value of 39 million or above.

Motility: The percentage of sperm that are moving, and how well they move. "Progressive motility" (sperm swimming forward in a roughly straight line) should be 30% or above.

Morphology: The proportion of sperm with a normal shape. Even in fertile men, most sperm look unusual under a microscope: the WHO threshold is just 4% or more with normal form.

Volume: The amount of semen produced. A typical result is 1.4 mL or more.

Getting results that fall below any of these thresholds does not mean conception is impossible. Many men with results outside the reference range go on to conceive naturally. But it does give you useful information, and it means any changes you make to your lifestyle can be tracked over time.

When Is the Right Time to Get Tested?

There is no rule that says you have to wait until conception becomes difficult. In fact, getting a baseline reading before you start trying gives you several advantages.

First, it removes uncertainty. If your results are within normal range, you can focus on other aspects of your health with confidence. If they fall outside the reference values, you have time to make adjustments or seek advice before you are under any emotional pressure.

Second, sperm take around 72–74 days to develop from start to finish. That means changes you make today, including improvements to your diet, alcohol intake, and stress levels, will not show up in your sperm for roughly two to three months. Knowing your baseline early means you can act early.

Third, NICE guidelines recommend that both partners are investigated simultaneously when a couple seeks help with fertility. Getting ahead of that curve, before 12 months of trying, puts you in a stronger position.

What Happens After a Pre-Conception Sperm Test?

If your results come back within the WHO reference ranges, that is a positive sign. It does not guarantee conception, but it tells you that sperm quality is unlikely to be a barrier.

If any parameters fall below the reference values, that is not a cause for alarm. It is information. A clinical consultation (included with every Malebox test) gives you the chance to talk through your results with an NMC (The Nursing and Midwife Council) registered clinician who can advise on next steps, whether that is lifestyle changes, further investigations, or simply re-testing in a few months.

Some couples who have been trying for 12 months or more choose to add a hormone profile to their semen analysis. This tests testosterone, FSH, LH, and prolactin, and can help identify whether a hormonal factor is involved. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines recommend this combination for men in couples who have been trying to conceive for a year or longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should men get a fertility test before trying to conceive?

There are no official guidelines requiring it, but getting a sperm test before you start trying gives you a useful baseline. If results are within normal range, that is reassuring. If anything falls below the reference values, you have time to make changes or seek advice before the process becomes stressful.

Q: What does a male fertility test involve?

A semen analysis measures sperm count, motility (movement), morphology (shape), and semen volume. With an at-home kit, you provide a sample at home, post it to a lab in temperature-controlled packaging, and receive your results alongside a clinical consultation.

Q: How long before trying to conceive should I get a sperm test?

Ideally two to three months before you start trying. Sperm take around 72–74 days to mature, so if you want time to act on any results and see the benefit of lifestyle changes, testing at least three months out makes sense.

Q: Can lifestyle changes improve sperm quality?

Yes. Diet, exercise, sleep, smoking, alcohol, and heat exposure to the testicles all affect sperm parameters. Because sperm take roughly three months to develop, changes you make now will show up in a test approximately 10–12 weeks later.

Q: Is a semen analysis the same as a fertility test?

A semen analysis is the main tool used to assess male fertility. It covers the key parameters that clinicians use to evaluate sperm health. A full male fertility assessment might also include hormone testing and, in some cases, a physical examination or genetic screening, depending on the results.

 

Getting a male fertility test before pregnancy is not about assuming something is wrong. It is about going into the process with a clear picture of where things stand, so you and your partner are making decisions with information rather than guesswork.

Malebox offers an at-home sperm test with a clinical consultation included, from £240. You take the sample at home, it goes to a lab, and an HCPC-registered clinician walks you through your results. If you are thinking about starting a family, it is a straightforward way to check in on your sperm health before you begin.

Explore the Malebox at-home sperm test


References
  1. World Health Organization. (2021). WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen (6th ed.). WHO Press. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030787
  2. NHS. (2022). Infertility. NHS.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/
  3. NICE. (2013, updated 2017). Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (Clinical guideline CG156). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg156
  4. Agarwal, A., Mulgund, A., Hamada, A., & Chyatte, M. R. (2015). A unique view on male infertility around the globe. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 13, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-015-0032-1
Tags: Fertility Journey Male Fertility
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