A new smartphone device may allow men to test their fertility at home. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School are developing a smartphone accessory and app that can determine sperm count and motility with reported accuracy of up to 98%.
The test comes in the form of a disposable kit that uses hardware and software technology. A sperm sample is inserted into a chip, which is then inserted into an accessory case attached to a smartphone. The accessory case contains lenses and an LED, which allows the sample to be illuminated and magnified. The sample can then be captured on video by the smartphone’s camera and an app uses an algorithm to measure the sperm count and motility.
This device would allow men to perform a basic semen analysis at home for less than $50. It must be noted though, that it wouldn’t be able to replace a standard semen analysis. The device does not allow for testing of sperm morphology (size and shape), which is an important factor in male fertility. So, with that being said, the device has its pros and cons.
The pros are that the device is relatively inexpensive and it may be a good first line evaluation for a man, who is hesitant to perform a semen analysis at a medical office. Sometimes men are embarrassed to approach their doctors for a fertility evaluation, so this device would allow for simple and inexpensive testing in the privacy of their own homes. If the test results come out normal though and the couple has been struggling with infertility for a long period of time, it’s important to see a fertility specialist for a standard semen analysis, further evaluation, and treatment.
As a fertility specialist, it’s exciting to see new technology constantly being developed for testing and treating infertility. Hopefully devices such as this one will allow patients to be proactive early in their conception journey. This type of technology also gives me pause though. Home testing can give false reassurance to patients, which may cause them to lose precious time for testing and treatment. So, regardless of at home testing results, I would encourage any person who is struggling with infertility to discuss their results with a physician and to see if any other testing is needed.