Male fertility: where to start and when to ask for help
Understand the assessment, the limits of home tests and how to prepare for a useful conversation.
Read the guide →
SHIFT HEALTH
MALE FERTILITY
Male fertility.
Start with understanding.
Thinking about a family? Understand male fertility, the limits of a home test and how to prepare for an assessment.
- Male fertility
- Test limits
- Getting advice
Information first. You do not need to buy a test to start.
Understand male fertility, the limits of a home test and how to prepare for a proper assessment. You do not need to buy anything to start asking questions.
Three useful places to start
Can a home sperm test tell me whether I am fertile?
Understand a concentration-only kit, full semen analysis and why a reassuring result cannot settle the whole question.
Read the guide →TRT and fertility: the conversation to have before treatment
Understand why plans for children belong in a testosterone assessment, and what to ask before or during treatment.
Read the guide →More about assessment and support
After a vasectomy: why the correct follow-up test matters
Understand the difference between post-vasectomy clearance and an ordinary sperm-concentration check.
Read the guide →Fertility and medicines: what to tell your GP or specialist
Prepare an accurate treatment history and a better conversation about suitability, without stopping or swapping medicines yourself.
Read the guide →Past anabolic steroid use and fertility: asking for specialist help
Prepare an honest treatment history and seek appropriate help without following a self-managed hormone recovery plan.
Read the guide →Planning a family: everyday health and realistic expectations
Make useful changes around food, smoking, alcohol and sleep without treating pregnancy as a reward for a perfect routine.
Read the guide →Semen analysis explained: concentration, movement and shape
Understand what a laboratory semen analysis contributes and how it differs from a home concentration check or testosterone test.
Read the guide →When trying for a baby is affecting your head or relationship
Practical ways to ask for support, share the load and make room for life beyond appointments and results.
Read the guide →A test is one part of the picture.
A home sperm-concentration check is different from a full fertility assessment. Read what the particular kit can and cannot measure, and speak to your GP if you are having difficulty conceiving.