Producing a sample

Collection at Sydney Andrology

When you arrive at Sydney Andrology let the receptionist know that you have an appointment for a semen analysis.

You will be required to pay for the semen analysis at the time of the visit. We will discuss Medicare and health insurance with you at this time

You will be asked to check your details on a sticker (indicating your full name and your partner's name if appropriate) and you will be directed to the andrology collection rooms.

The rooms are set up to provide a private and comfortable environment in which to produce your specimen.

Read the instructions in the room. The semen specimen should be produced by masturbation. Wash your genitals and hands to minimise the chance of contamination of your specimen and dry them thoroughly.

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Do not use lubricants or saliva when masturbating as potential toxicity to the sperm can adversely influence the results. Collect the ejaculate by masturbation directly into the specimen jar and replace the lid immediately to prevent contamination. Do not produce the specimen by having intercourse and withdrawing the penis prior to ejaculation or by oral sex. Both activities can lead to a suboptimal specimen, which may produce false results. If required, a lubricant is available that has been tested by Sydney Andrology as reasonably safe to use.

Make sure you fill out the information on the questionnaire provided by the laboratory. The questionnaire will ask questions such as days of abstinence, time of ejaculation and whether any of the sample was lost. If you have any questions as to how to fill out the questionnaire, please ask rather than leave a question blank.

The results will be sent to your doctor within 7 days.

Scientists are available for consultation if you have any questions or difficulties.

Alternative collection methods

At Sydney Andrology we recommend that patients produce their sample by masturbation. However, if this is uncomfortable, contradictory to your beliefs, unacceptable or unattainable for you, we can discuss and accommodate alternate methods of specimen collection.

The staff at Sydney Andrology are accustomed to discussing these matters on a daily basis so please feel comfortable to discuss this openly so we can provide you with the most appropriate options.

Condom collection

Do not collect the specimen with a regular condom as they contain chemicals that are toxic to sperm.

If masturbation is absolutely unacceptable to you, please obtain a special non-contraceptive condom from Sydney Andrology.

Surgical sperm collection

Surgical sperm retrieval is performed when a man cannot produce an ejaculated sample himself for a variety of reasons.

In some cases of a previous vasectomy, sperm retrieval may be undertaken rather than a vasectomy reversal attempt based on the length of time from the original vasectomy or the woman’s age.

Additionally, in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (complete absence of sperm from the seminal fluid) or congenital conditions where there is an underlying problem with sperm production itself, it may be possible to harvest sperm directly from the testes.

The quantities of sperm retrieved surgically are quite small and generally must be combined with in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The sperm can either be used fresh, or frozen for future uses.

Penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation

Most males with spinal cord injury cannot ejaculate via sexual intercourse and require medically assisted procedures to obtain a semen sample. The most common procedures are penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and electroejaculation.

It is recommended that PVS is used as the first line of treatment as it is less invasive, preferred by the patient and results in a higher quality sample than electroejaculation. Approximately half of all men with spinal cord injuries respond to PVS.

Electroejaculation involves electrical stimulation applied over the prostate through the rectum. It is considerably more dangerous than using a vibrator and should not be used except in a medical setting by health professionals who are knowledgeable about spinal cord injury. This is generally performed in a surgical theatre.