The Virginia IVF & Andrology Center provides a variety of tests to assess the fertility potential of men. To accomplish this, the man must provide a fresh semen specimen for testing to the Andrology Laboratory at the Virginia IVF & Andrology Center.

To have a diagnostic test performed at Virginia IVF & Andrology Center all patients must have a written order from a physician and schedule an appointment with the Andrology Laboratory. There are special collection instructions that a patient will need to follow, and the patient can either collect his specimen at home and deliver it to the Virginia IVF and Andrology Center, or he can arrange to collect his specimen at Virginia IVF and Andrology Center.

After the testing is completed the test results will be faxed to the ordering physicians office usually within one week. Below are brief descriptions of the diagnostic tests performed at the Virginia IVF and Andrology Center.

Semen Analysis Complete/Basic
A Semen Analysis is a routine diagnostic laboratory procedure used to provide an initial evaluation of the fertility potential of the male. The analysis requires fresh semen and includes measurements of volume, viscosity, liquefication status, seminal cytology, sperm concentration, and various motility parameters.

Since semen parameters are variable, it is recommended that a minimum of two collections should be processed on separate days in order to give the most accurate evaluation of male fertility.

Semen Analysis, Limited/Post-vasectomy Analysis
A Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis is a diagnostic laboratory procedure used to provide an evaluation of the success or failure of a vasectomy procedure. The analysis requires a fresh semen sample and includes measurements of volume, viscosity, liquefaction status and identification for the presence of sperm and sperm concentrations if present.

It is recommended that patients should have between one and three limited semen analysis approximately two months after the vasectomy to confirm its success.

Diagnostic Sperm Swim-up/24 Hour Motility
The Diagnostic Sperm Swim-up is comprehensive diagnostic laboratory procedure used to aid in the diagnosis of the fertility potential of a male prior to when a couple has an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.

The Diagnostic Swim-up requires fresh semen and includes measurements of volume, viscosity, liquefaction status, seminal cytology, sperm concentration, various motility parameters, motile sperm recovery by "swim-up", overnight motility ,and direct antisperm antibodies.

The 24 Hour Motility test is identical to the Diagnostic Sperm Swim-up except that the antisperm antibody test is not performed.

Retrograde Semen Analysis
Although this condition is relatively uncommon, Retrograde Ejaculation refers to ejaculation of semen backwards into the bladder instead of going out through the urethra . Retrograde ejaculation may be caused by prior prostate or urethral surgery, diabetes, some medications, including some drugs used to treat hypertension and some mood altering drugs and may occur either partially or completely. The presence of semen into the bladder is harmless. It mixes into the urine and leaves the body with normal urination. Men with diabetes and those who have had genitourinary tract surgery are at increased risk of developing the condition Retrograde ejaculation is confirmed by observing large numbers of sperm in a post-ejaculation urine specimen.

Antisperm Antibodies Direct
Antisperm Antibodies are immune-reactive particles produced by the body as a response against the proteins contained in sperm. This can happen as a result of contact between blood cells and sperm, as through testicular trauma, varicocele, vasectomy, intercourse, or sometimes for unknown reasons. Antisperm antibodies can be a cause for infertility blocking the ability of a sperm to fertilize the egg.

The Airect Antisperm Antibody Test is performed on semen to identify if antibodies are attached to the sperm.

Antisperm Antibodies Indirect
In some situations a woman may develop antibodies to her partners sperm, and this may cause infertility by blocking the ability of sperm to fertilize the egg. The Indirect Antisperm Antibody Test can be performed on the woman's serum, or cervical mucus.

Morphology
The shape (morphology) of a sperm has been shown to be directly correlated to its ability to fertilize the egg. Therefore, evaluation of the percent of sperm in a semen specimen with normal morphology is performed under the microscope during a semen analysis. The percent of normal forms calculated from the evaluation of a stained semen smear serves as another parameter to aid in the evaluation of the fertility potential of a male.