LCRH
Male Fertility Testing
Fertility Pathways
Male infertility accounts for around half of all cases of infertility. It may be prominent, but male infertility if often undiagnosed and men can feel unsupported.
An estimated 7% of all men are affected by infertility, and the rate of male infertility is on the rise. Over the past 50 years, sperm counts worldwide have more than halved, and sperm quality has declined rapidly. Back in 1973, every millilitre of ejaculate contained an average 104 million sperm, compared to just 49 million now. Low sperm count and poor sperm quality are the main causes of male infertility, and but these in turn can be caused by a wide range of factors.
LCRH is currently working with Professor Jonathan Ramsay to further research and collaborate in this hugely important and evolving field.
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While the primary symptom of male infertility is the inability to conceive, there are some associated signs and symptoms to look out for too. These include:
Difficulty ejaculating
Reduced libido
Erectile dysfunction
Testicular pain or swelling
Gynecomastia (the overdevelopment of breast tissue)
Decreased body or facial hair
Low sperm concentration (less than 16 million per ml)
Low progressive motility (<30%)
Reduced normal forms (<4%)
If you are concerned about your fertility, then a good starting point is to get a fertility check.
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Infertility can be caused by many different things, including medical, lifestyle and age-related factors. Here are some of the most common causes of male infertility:
Poor quality sperm
Infections in the genital or urinary tract
Testicular damage
Varicocele (enlarged veins in the scrotum)
Testicular overheating
Ejaculation problems
Hormonal imbalances
Medical conditions
Medication
Smoking
Poor diet
High BMI
Lack of exercise or excessive exercise
Alcohol and illegal drugs (especially illegal steroids)
Age
Stress
Toxic pollutants
In many cases, there are steps you can take to overcome low sperm count and improve your sperm quality. For example, varicocele can often be fixed with surgery, and healthy changes can be made to your lifestyle to improve your chances of conceiving.
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There are often steps you can take to improve your fertility, depending on what’s causing your low sperm count or poor sperm quality.
Here are a few lifestyle changes you can make:
Eat a healthier, more balanced Mediterranean diet, avoiding highly processed or sugary foods
Limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink each day
Quit smoking
Exercise more frequently
Avoid hot baths, saunas, and hot tubs, as these can cause testicular overheating
Consider genital cooling
Assess any medication, supplements or hair loss treatments you are on and speak to your healthcare provider about its impact on fertility
As part of your fertility profiling at LCRH, we will take a look at your current lifestyle and recommend adjustments that could help to improve your fertility
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Our male fertility testing includes a series of simple tests to give you a full understanding of your reproductive health.
The tests include:
Semen Analysis
Semen Culture / Microbiome test
DNA Fragmentation (both single and double stranded) testing
Testicular ultrasound scans
Reproductive hormone profiling
As part of the semen analysis, you will be asked to provide a semen sample, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. The analysis examines sperm count (number of sperm per ml), morphology (size and shape) and motility (ability to swim in a straight line).
The semen culture / microbiome test checks for the presence of infection. This can be done from samples produced at home if preferred.
A DNA fragmentation test looks inside your sperm to assess the quality of its DNA. This test tells us whether there is any DNA damage (fragmentation) in your sperm, which is important information we can’t get from a semen analysis alone. Research shows that sperm DNA quality is an essential factor for pregnancy. Therefore, DNA fragmentation testing is fast becoming the go-to assessment to understand a man’s fertility on a deeper level.
LCRH routinely recommends both the Sperm Comet® Exact and Sperm Comet® Extend DNA fragmentation tests :
The Exact® test’s function is to measure the level of DNA fragmentation in a sperm sample. It measures both single strand DNA breaks (ssDB) and double strand DNA breaks (dsDB).
The Extend® test exclusively measures double strand DNA breaks (dsDB).
Double-strand DNA damage seems to be particularly associated with frequent, early miscarriages, often when the semen analysis and ordinary DNA fragmentation tests are normal or near-normal.
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Once all of your tests have been carried out, you will attend a consultation with a fertility specialist. They will discuss your test results and advise you on any lifestyle changes that may be required to improve your health and your fertility.
Should you wish to, the specialist will also discuss your options regarding sperm freezing, IVF, and any future assistance that may be needed to help you conceive.
At LCRH, our friendly team will support you throughout the entire process, ensuring that you feel informed and supported every step of the way.
Book a consultation, or schedule an informal chat about your personal situation with an experienced member of our admin team. You can also call us on (UK) 0203 773 5311.
“I first met Lynne at the then newly opened IVI Fertility Clinic in London. I had been asked to update the clinic on aspects of Male Fertility, and Lynne was interested. This was 10 years ago, when most gynaecologists did not recognise that the diagnosis and treatment of the male factor was significant. So. I referred some couples, and was very impressed by the feedback… good outcomes , and a more personal approach, providing consistency and support. Since then we have managed many couples, often involving surgical sperm retrievals on the same day as the egg retrieval at The Lister. I know how much our patients value seeing familiar faces on “the day”.”
— - Dr Ramsay, on a decade of collaboration with Dr Chapman.
LCRH has care locations in London, Beaconsfield and Tunbridge Wells
We also have specialist partner laboratories at Lister Fertility Clinic, London, and Aria Fertility Clinic, London.
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LCRH London Fertility Clinic
LCRH London is our flagship London clinic. Located in the medical heartland of Marylebone, at number 9 Wimpole Street.
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![LCRH Beaconsfield Fertility Clinic]()
Beaconsfield
Our Beaconsfield clinic is located at The Define Clinic, a purpose built high standard medical facility in the heart of Beaconsfield.
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![LCRH Tunbridge Wells Fertility Clinic]()
Tunbridge Wells
LCRH Tunbridge Wells is located within The Amara Clinic, a peaceful, private, and female focused clinical medical space.
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![LCRH London at Lister Fertility Clinic]()
Lister Fertility Clinic
London’s Lister Fertility Clinic is a key Laboratory Partner for Dr Chapman & Dr Dear for LCRH Patient Egg Collections and Embryo Transfers.
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![LCRH London at Aria Fertility Clinic]()
Aria Fertility Clinic
Aria Fertility Clinic is an LCRH Licensed Laboratory Facility Partner for LCRH Patient Egg Collections and Embryo Transfers in London.
The LCRH Difference
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LCRH is 100% founder-owned by Dr Lynne Chapman. Independence from private equity or large corporate ownership gives her small team of experts unconstrained focus on meeting patient needs. Your unique body means your unique informed care.
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LCRH patients receive a dedicated care team of Consultant, Nurse, and Admin. Your team stays with you throughout your treatment, is continuously updated with developments in your care, and is contactable throughout.
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Fertility treatment pathways can be long and complex. Fertility treatment pricing must be clearly articulated upfront, transparent and flexible. To the greatest degree possible, we aim to meet these needs through detailed bespoke quotes, FAQs and an easily accessible finance team.
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We work with a selection of the UK’s most established and respected complementary fertility therapists including dieticians, acupuncturists and coaches.
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Dr Chapman is a passionate believer that all families are perfect in their own way. For many of our patients the journey to a family involves egg and/or sperm donation. LCRH provides access to and co-ordinates closely with both UK and overseas donor banks and treatment facilities.
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Dr Chapman and her team have extensive expertise in helping those with previously failed IVF cycles, low ovarian reserves, recurrent pregnancy loss, PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, and male-factor fertility issues.
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LCRH works in collaboration with leading HFEA licensed laboratories, and foremost multidisciplinary teams including andrology, surgery, medical and obstetrics.
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We understand how confusing and stressful trying to conceive can feel. We provide support at every step of the journey. We work closely with highly experienced counsellors throughout.
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50% of the contribution means 50% of the focus. LCRH is a leader in the research and analysis of male factor fertility. From simple semen analysis and culture to ZyMot, advanced DNA fragmentation testing and surgical sperm retrievals; LCRH works with world renown urologists and andrologists to provide the best possible outcomes.
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LCRH extends a compassionate and diversity-positive approach to all. We offer a welcoming smile and the full range of treatment options for all versions of the modern family.
To learn more, book a consultation, or schedule an informal chat about your personal situation with an experienced member of our admin team please use the link below. You can also reach us by phone and WhatsApp.