Drug Stores To Begin Selling At-Home Male Fertility Tests
BOSTON (CBS) - The miracle of life is a dream that leads to heartbreak for millions of couples every year.
Couples have to ride that roller coaster for months before doctors even consider them infertile.
Ovulation predictors and many other over-the-counter products are available to help women struggling to get pregnant. But statistics show that as many 40% of infertility cases can be traced back to the man, and there is nothing available over-the-counter for men.
WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports
But that's changing. Next month drug stores will start selling the SpermCheck home testing kit.
Studies have shown that men tend to be reluctant to seek professional help when a couple has trouble getting pregnant.
The test would allow the man to check his fertility in the privacy of his own home.
Dr. Joseph Sanfilippo, an OB-GYN and a fertility specialist, says qualified, professional lab tests evaluate a man's situation much more thoroughly. The good news according to Dr. Sanfilippo is that a low sperm count does not necessarily mean having a baby is impossible.
Once a cause is identified, men can often be successfully treated.
The test is expected to go on sale within the next few weeks at pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS.
