Frequently Asked Questions

• "Patient Question" - What is a retrograde sample and how should I produce this?

  If you do not produce any/very few sperm by ejaculation and it is suspected that you produce a retrograde sample, this means that when you ejaculate the semen goes into your urine. You will be asked to masturbate and then produce a urine sample to see if there are any sperm in the urine. This is a special infertility assessment appointment, you must have an appropriate referral and book an appointment online selecting ‘special infertility test’.

• "GP Question" - Who is the Hull Andrology Service for?

  The Hull Andrology Unit provides preliminary investigations for male sub fertility problems and post-vasectomy analysis via both NHS and private referrals.  A patient can be referred for semen evaluation when his partner is of reproductive age and has not conceived after one year of unprotected vaginal intercourse in the absence of any known cause of infertility. An earlier referral for semen evaluation should be offered when his partner is aged 36 years or over and/or there is a known clinical cause of infertility and/or a history of predisposing factors for infertility.

• "GP Question" - Where can I get advice on individual clinical cases?

  Advice can be sought from the team of HCPC Registered Clinical Scientists at Hull & East Riding Fertility between the hours of 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday by telephoning 01482 689040.

• "GP Question" - Which test should I request for a patient?

  If a male patient has suspected subfertility then an Andrology specific request card can be completed to request an ‘Infertility’ test. This will offer the specific tests required for preliminary investigation. Upon request we carry out more specialist infertility tests including tests for anti-sperm antibodies and vitality for example in the cases of a vasectomy reversal. This must be stated on the request form as a ‘special infertility test’ and appropriate appointment booked online.

   

  If the patient has had a vasectomy then they can be referred for a ‘Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis’. This will look for the presence or absence of spermatozoa in a semen sample.

   

  Please do not refer a patient to the Andrology unit for specialist seminal fluid investigations such as haematospermia or culture and sensitivity testing.

   

  Please see the Andrology User Guide for further information on testing and referral.

• "Patient Question" - What happens to my sample after it has been analysed?

  Your sample will be disposed of as soon as the analysis is complete unless you have given your consent for the sample to be used for training. Once training is complete your sample will be disposed of.

• "GP/Patient Question" - I have received the results of a semen sample, why has it not met the acceptance criteria?

  There are certain criteria that need to be met in order to ensure unequivocal identification of the patient, that the test requested can be identified and that the reportable results are accurate. If the request card details, patient information, appropriate abstinence period or sample completion have not met these criteria, then it may influence the patient’s results and therefore provide incorrect clinical information which could influence the patient’s treatment pathway. The acceptance criteria are detailed in the Andrology User Guide and at all points should be met in order to ensure the test will be carried out and a report issued.

• "Patient Question"- What factors can affect a fertility analysis result?

  A number of factors can affect the result of your semen evaluation when examined for fertility. For example:

  • The time from production to sample drop-off (should be less than 45 minutes). This is because sperm start to become immotile and deteriorate after this time period, providing inaccurate results.
  • The incorrect sample pot. Samples pots provided by the Unit or your GP have been tested prior to distribution to ensure they are not toxic to sperm. Any other form of collection device – including condoms or lubricant – may be toxic to sperm and will therefore affect your results.
  • Incorrect number of days abstinence (should be between 2-7 days). This period of abstaining is found to be the optimum amount to ensure an accurate representation of your normal semen quality.
  • An incomplete sample. Any spillage of the sample can result in ‘sperm rich’ fractions being lost and therefore not representative of your semen quality.

• What services do you offer?

  At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we offer a range of fertility investigations and treatments.

  Our treatments include IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), embryo freezing, frozen embryo transfer (FET), semen analysis, sperm extraction (PESA/TESA/mTESE), social egg and sperm freezing as well as fertility preservation.

• I’m about to have chemotherapy, can you help me protect my eggs/sperm?

  If you are about to undergo any form of treatment or surgery, including chemotherapy, and you believe that your fertility may be affected as a result, then we can help you with fertility preservation.

  Should you need it, we can provide rapid access for egg, embryo or sperm freezing, and we have strong relationships with oncology teams throughout the region.

• Do you have a fertility clinic in York?

  All treatment takes place at our clinic in Hessle, East Yorkshire, about 35 miles from York city centre. Where appropriate, we offer telephone and video consultations to reduce travel.

• How far is your clinic from York, and how do I get there?

  Our Hessle clinic is about 35 miles from York city centre and easy to reach by road and public transport, with ample free car parking on site.

• "Patient Question" - Do I need to book an appointment for a semen analysis or post vasectomy analysis?

  Yes, all appointments MUST be booked online via www.hulleastridingfertility.co.uk/bookings. Once you have a completed referral card and sterile pot from your GP, you must produce the sample at home and bring it to the Andrology lab within 45 minutes. The sample will only be accepted during opening hours.

  Samples for post-vasectomy semen analysis are recommended to be examined within 3 hours of production. If the post-vasectomy semen analysis is to check for sperm motility, the sample needs to be examined within 45 minutes of production.

  If you are unable to drop your sample off within the specified time-limits, on-site production facilities are available to book on Mondays and Thursday via our online booking system selecting ‘production on-site’ on the drop down menu or by calling 01482689040.

   

• Can I have my consultation by video or phone instead of travelling?

  Yes. Where appropriate, consultations can be held by telephone or video call. Scans, tests and treatment take place in Hessle.

• "Patient Question" - What if I live further than an 45 minutes away?

  The 45 minute guideline is there to produce optimal and accurate results of the semen analysis. If you are bringing in a sample for a post vasectomy semen analysis you should bring the sample within approximately 3 hours.

  A room is available for booking should you be unable to deliver a fertility sample within 45 minutes. The room can be booked via the online booking system at www.hulleastridingfertility.co.uk/bookings or by calling Hull & East Riding Fertility on 01482689040.

• Do I need a GP referral if I live in York?

  No, not if you’re paying for your own treatment. You can contact us directly. All patients are entitled to NHS funded investigations, and our Getting Started page explains how referrals work.

• "Patient Question" - How long will my results take to come back?

  Results can only be given by the referring GP/consultant and will not be given by the Andrology department. You should allow at least 7 working days for the results to be put on the electronic system. Results may take longer if the GP or referring consultant requires a paper copy – this is the case for all vasectomy clinics.

• "Patient Question" - How long do I need to abstain from sexual activity before my semen analysis?

  Abstinence from sexual activity should occur for 2 days prior to the analysis, but no longer than 7 days. Research has shown that between 2 and 7 days gives an overall optimal value for sperm count and motility parameters combined.

  Please keep in mind that an abstinence period of 2 days must be a minimum of 48 hours (2 full days) for the results of your semen analysis to be interpreted appropriately.

  For example, if the last time you ejaculated was at 9 pm on Saturday, on Monday at 9 am your abstinence period would only be 36 hours. We would next be open on Wednesday, when your abstinence period would be 3-4 days, well within the recommended 2-7 days.

• Can I be seen at your clinic if I'm an NHS patient?

  Yes, we treat both privately funded and NHS funded patients. You will need to ask your GP for a referral to the Hull Sub-Fertility Service, letting your GP know you wish to be seen at our clinic. Your GP will then refer you for initial investigations and a consultation with one of our fertility specialists. Hull & East Riding Fertility run the Hull Sub-Fertility Service on behalf of the NHS, and if appropriate, and it is your preference, you will continue to have your treatment with us. Before treatment, we would need you to complete a Criteria Form, which allows us to confirm that you are eligible for NHS funded treatment. The waiting times for NHS referrals at Hull are among the lowest in the region.

• "Patient Question" - I have had a semen analysis, why do I need a repeat?

  There are several reasons a repeat may be required:

  • Sample arrived outside of laboratory hours and could not be processed.
  • Sample leaked from pot and is now not suitable for analysis. This is due to infection control purposes and an incomplete sample not being representative of your sample as a whole.
  • Sample arrived at unit greater than 45 minutes after production. Sperm begins to become immotile and deteriorate after this time period, providing inaccurate results.
  • Confirmation of a previous abnormal semen analysis result.
  • The analysis has shown a low/unexpected result.

  A repeat sample may be required and show a different result:

  Every measurement will be subject to a margin of doubt. For example, a patient may attend for semen analysis and have a sperm concentration of 15 M/ml and then attend for a repeat evaluation and attain a result of 17 M/ml. Approximately, a 10% difference may be expected when comparing two successive semen evaluations for concentration or motility.

• How quickly can I be seen?

  If you are funding your treatment and investigations yourself, there is no need for a referral. In this case there is little to no waiting time for a first consultation. Once your investigations are complete, your personalised treatment plan is usually in place within a few weeks of your first appointment.

• "Patient Question" - I have had a vasectomy reversal and have been asked to book an appointment for semen analysis? Why can’t I drop the sample off in the normal opening hours?

  Routinely an extra specialised test (anti-sperm antibody test) will be requested if you have recently undergone a reversal. This will look to see if your semen sample has the presence of antibodies. Antibodies can cause problems with the sperm motility and their fertilisation capacity after a certain amount of time. For this test it is essential that the sample is examined quickly after production. We therefore ask you to book an appointment to produce the sample at the unit to allow for rapid evaluation. This can be booked by calling Hull and East Riding on 01482689040 or using the link below;

   

  Book a Special Infertility Andrology Test – Hull & East Riding Fertility (hulleastridingfertility.co.uk).

• What fertility tests can I have?

  The tests you will have will be based on the discussion about your medical history during your first consultation with a specialist fertility consultant. The most common investigations are an AMH blood test (to establish egg reserves), an antral follicle count scan (using transvaginal ultrasound) and, if you have a male partner, a semen analysis.

• Which treatments do you offer patients from York?

  Where recommended following your investigations, we offer IVF, ICSI, IUI, frozen embryo transfer, egg freezing and fertility preservation, all at our clinic in Hessle. We treat couples and solo women.

• Is Hull & East Riding Fertility licensed?

  Yes. We are licensed by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) and have been helping patients to start a family since 1986, with over 3,000 babies born.

• "Patient Question" - I have had a vasectomy, why do I have to wait 12 weeks and produce 20 ejaculations before bringing in a sample for analysis?

  It is very important to follow instructions and recommendations. Based on current Best Practice Guidelines, if you bring in a sample earlier than the 12 week and 20 ejaculations it is likely to provide inconclusive results and lead to the need for extra samples for assessment. However, you should follow instructions given to you by your Clinician for testing and clearance.

• "Patient Question" - I have been informed there was a problem with my semen analysis and have been referred to a specialist. What does this mean?

  There are a number of reasons you may have been referred elsewhere and this does not necessarily mean you can not have children:

  • If you have a low sperm count or associated problems you may be referred to an urologist. An urologist will examine you and take hormonal and genetic blood tests to see if there is anything that can be done to improve your semen sample. In a small number of cases it is found that there is an absence of sperm. An urologist can sometimes suggest surgical procedures to obtain sperm.
  • In some cases where you and your partner have been having fertility tests, you may both be referred to the subfertility clinic/ Hull and East Riding Fertility Unit for further investigations/care.

Page Last Modified: 24th September 2026