Semen Analysis Instructions for Fertility and Post Vasectomy Specimens

Please read this information sheet carefully as it provides all the information required for successful submission of fertility analysis and post vasectomy semen analysis specimens.

Please note: Failure to follow these instructions may result in the rejection of your semen analysis specimen and the requirement for a repeat specimen.

If you have any questions regarding these instructions, please call the Andrology Laboratory on 01305 254308 and we will be happy to help.

Semen specimen types

• Fertility analysis: For fertility investigations. Normally requested by your GP or the Fertility Clinic at Dorset County Hospital.
• Post vasectomy semen analysis: To check to ensure your vasectomy has been successful. Normally requested by the clinician who performed your vasectomy surgical procedure. Post vasectomy specimens must be produced a minimum of 12 weeks after the vasectomy procedure and after a minimum of 20 ejaculations. Assessment of a single negative post vasectomy specimen is acceptable to confirm vasectomy success. A second specimen may be required if the first is positive; this must be discussed with the clinician managing your post vasectomy care before making an appointment for the second specimen.

Semen delivery appointment system

• Before calling the laboratory to make your appointment, please ensure that your clinician has provided you with an andrology test request form (ICE request form).
• Please arrange an appointment with the laboratory at least two weeks in advance for all semen analysis deliveries. Please bear in mind that during busy periods there may be a waiting time of up to eight weeks for an appointment.
• To arrange a delivery appointment, please phone the laboratory on 01305 254308 between the hours of 1pm and 3.30pm, Monday – Thursday.
• During this telephone conversation, a member of laboratory staff will discuss the delivery guidance with you and will allocate you a delivery appointment during the following andrology clinic hours: 8:15am – 12:15pm: Monday – Thursday (Closed Fridays, weekends and bank holidays).
• Once you have been booked in for your appointment, the laboratory staff will send a specimen pack to your GP surgery. The specimen pack will contain another copy of this information sheet, a compliments slip with details of your delivery appointment, and one of our approved semen analysis specimen pots.
• If you have any additional requirements that the laboratory can help with, please mention this during the appointment telephone conversation.

Specimen production and collection

• Approved pots: The laboratory will only accept specimen pots that have been approved by the Andrology Department at Dorset County Hospital. These are distinctive white-topped, wide-mouth 60ml pots that have a label affixed identifying the specimen pot as a ‘Dorset County Hospital Semen Specimen Pot,’ along with a box which details the Lot no/expiry and pot weight. If you are unsure as to whether you have the correct pot, please call the lab on 01305 254308. Store the specimen pot in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Do not open the pot until you are ready to produce the specimen and carefully seal the pot immediately after specimen collection with the lid, ensuring that the lid is on tightly.
• Produce the specimen at home: There are no facilities at Dorset County Hospital for specimen production. Please produce all specimens at home before travelling to the hospital. Please be aware that it is a criminal act to produce semen in a public place.
• Two to seven days sexual abstinence: Semen specimens should be produced after a period of sexual abstinence of at least two days (48 hours), but no longer than seven days.
• Collect by masturbation: The specimen must be obtained by masturbation (manual hand stimulation) directly into the approved specimen pot distributed from the laboratory. Patients with difficulties producing semen in this manner are advised to contact the laboratory to discuss suitable alternatives.
• Condoms, gels, lubricants or oils must not be used for collection: These may contain substances which will kill the sperm. The withdrawal method (coitus interruptus) is also not advised for collecting the specimen.
• Collect the whole specimen: It is essential that the whole ejaculate (discharge of semen) is collected, as the first part is often the richest in sperm numbers. Laboratory staff will ask you to confirm if any of the ejaculate was not collected.
• Check all personal details: Ensure your name, date of birth plus date and time of specimen production is written on the specimen pot and request form. Please check that all personal information on the request form is correct.

Delivery of the specimen to the laboratory

Specimens must be delivered to the laboratory within 50 minutes of production.

Please remember to bring your request form. This is required to process the specimen.

Please use the specimen pot and bag provided. Only use the DCH Andrology Department specimen pot and transport this to the laboratory in the clear specimen bag provided.

Keep the specimen close to body temperature. During transport keep the specimen as close to body temperature as possible (eg in a pocket close to your body).

Delivery appointments are held at the Andrology Department at Dorset County Hospital at the following address:
Andrology Department – Department of Pathology (North Wing Level 3)
North Wing Entrance One
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset DT1 2JY

To ensure that you can deliver the specimen to the lab within 50 minutes, we recommend you are dropped off at North Wing Main Entrance 1 to avoid parking delays. A test run to ensure delivery within 50 minutes is also recommended.

On arrival at the Pathology Department, please ring intercom 9 to speak to the secretarial staff who will notify the Andrology department immediately.

A member of laboratory staff will collect the specimen from you and ask you to complete a short questionnaire to aid the specimen analysis.

You must hand your specimen directly to a member of the andrology staff so we can check that all specimen collection requirements have been met.

Please note: Specimens delivered outside of clinic times, without an appointment, or specimens left at specimen reception without seeing a member of andrology staff will not be processed.

Reporting of results

All results will be available to the requesting clinician within seven working days of delivery to the laboratory. Results will be sent either as a paper report or made available on the ICE electronic reporting system.

Results for fertility analysis and post vasectomy semen analysis will not be given to patients directly from the laboratory. Patients must make an appointment with the GP/consultant who requested the test to obtain results and further advice.

Contact numbers

We hope that you have found this information useful. If you have any questions or are worried about anything, please call the Andrology Department on 01305 254308 and we will be happy to help.

About this leaflet

Author: Jonathan Halsall, Biomedical Scientist, Histopathology
Written: July 2019
Updated and approved: October 2023, Samantha Hansford, Head of Histopathology/Head BMS
Review date: October 2026
Edition: v5

If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk