Andrology Lab Services

For andrology services, such as semen analysis or insemination preparations, please call
248-593-6990 or use our online appointment request to make an appointment. Our regular andrology lab appointment hours are Monday through Friday 6:30 am to 2:30, and Saturday 6:30 am to 10:30 am. Plan to arrive about ten minutes prior to your scheduled appointment to complete any necessary paperwork and receive instructions.

Avoid any sexual activity that results in ejaculation for two to four days before your appointment.

Your sample should be obtained by masturbation and ejaculated into a sterile collection cup, which will be provided by our lab. As another option, you can purchase a seminal collection device from our office and use it to collect your semen sample during intercourse. Do NOT use condoms purchased from places other than our office because those condoms may contain substances that are toxic to sperm. We will give you more detailed instructions when you arrive for your appointment.

We have collection rooms, located away from all other patients and staff, designed for the collection of semen samples. We provide magazines and dvds, but you can also bring your own. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. If you’d like, your partner is welcome to accompany you in the collection room for your appointment.

If you cannot, or would rather not, collect your specimen at our office, you can collect at home in an approved container. Upon request, we will give you a “collection kit” that has an appropriate container along with detailed instructions. When you choose to collect at home, you still must make an appointment with us for your semen analysis so that we are prepared to do the required testing.

Please be sure to have the specimen to our office within one hour of collection. It’s important to keep the specimen at body heat temperature. This can be done by placing the specimen in a pocket or shirt or inside a brassiere. Do not allow the specimen’s temperature to drop below 70 degrees and above 98 degrees because the quality of the specimen may diminish to the point of making the semen analysis results not useful. If this is the case, you may need to return for another test.

A complete semen analysis evaluates concentration, motility and morphology. A complex semen analysis is a complete analysis plus a sperm wash. Your doctor may recommend a complex semen analysis in anticipation of infertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

You can collect your specimen at our office or at home (please see above information about collecting your specimen at home). An IUI prep is coordinated with your female partner’s anticipated ovulation. The sperm is removed from the seminal fluid and enhanced in a specialized media to improve the sperm’s motility (movement), longevity and ability to penetrate the woman’s egg.

Some sperm remain in semen after a vasectomy; therefore, it is important to examine semen specimens to ensure sterility. For this reason, your doctor may order one or more tests to verify that your semen contains no sperm. You should wait at least a few months after your vasectomy and have a minimum of 20 ejaculations before your semen is evaluated.

The PEU is used to diagnose retrograde ejaculation, a condition where the semen is ejaculated backwards (retrograde) into the bladder instead of through the urethra. A semen sample is obtained followed by a urine sample, then both fluids are analyzed for the presence of sperm. To prepare for your PEU, avoid any sexual activity that results in ejaculation for two to four days prior to your appointment. One hour before your appointment, empty your bladder. When you arrive for your appointment, we will give you more detailed instructions.

Your doctor may order the collection of cultures to rule out possible prostate or urinary tract infection. A semen or urine culture can identify the organism involved, which will then help your doctor to prescribe the appropriate treatment. A semen sample should be obtained by masturbation and ejaculated into a sterile collection cup, which is provided by our lab. A urine sample should be collected in a sterile cup, which is provided by our lab. When you arrive for your appointment, we will give you more details about your specific test.

Sperm retrieval procedures are performed at Michigan Reproductive Medicine as outpatient procedures. The entire process lasts about one hour. Local anesthetic is most commonly used to control any pain; however, intravenous sedation is also available based on the decision between you and your urologist.

There are three sperm retrieval procedures performed here and your urologist will determine which is appropriate for you:

• Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) uses a needle to penetrate the scrotal skin and draw a small amount of sperm from the epididymis.
• Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA) is used if sperm cannot be recovered using PESA. Your urologist may make a small incision on the scrotum to identify an area on the epididymus using magnification to determine where sperm can be collected.
• Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) involves creating a small opening in the scrotal sac to remove small samples of testis tissue for processing and eventual extraction of sperm.

You and your doctor will determine when to schedule the surgical sperm retrieval. Your doctor will also give you instructions on how to prepare for surgery and what to expect afterwards. If any sperm or testicular tissue has been recovered, our lab will freeze it for future use. You must call our office regarding allergies, anesthesia needs and payment prior to the date of surgery.