Welcome to the Andrology Patient Portal

Location of andrology 

The andrology assessment service and co-ordination of the appointment booking system is provided by the cytology laboratory located in the orange zone of the 1st floor of the main hospital building; beside microbiology. Please press the doorbell on the left hand side on the wall. 

Enter the north entrance located on Longfleet road. Upon entering the automatic doors, turn left until you reach the end of the corridor where you will see elevators and a staircase (orange zone). Make your way up to the first floor where you will notice signs for andrology. Follow these signs until you reach the microbiology reception area. The doorbell for andrology is located on the wall on the left hand side. Press the bell and wait for a member of the team to escort you to our consultation room. 

Services provided 

The andrology service assesses three aspects of semen analysis for both NHS and private patients. Your doctor or clinician will refer you for this test. If you wish to have this test done without a referral, a private processing fee will be applicable. Patients from outside Dorset, or those who wish to self-fund their andrology investigation, should contact the laboratory for advice on 0300 019 2793. 

Semen fertility assessment 

Semen analysis for those experiencing difficulties in conceiving is often the first means of fertility assessment. The andrology laboratory will assess your semen volume, pH, motility, vitality, sperm count and morphology in line with the World Health Organisation standard semen assessment. 

Post vasectomy semen analysis 

Patients who undergo a tubal ligation of the vas deferens as part of contraceptive control will need confirmation of the effectiveness of this procedure. Assessment of a semen sample to confirm the absence of spermatozoa is performed at a minimum of 12 weeks and a minimum of 20 ejaculations after your procedure. It is important that two tests are performed four weeks apart for an accurate assessment. 

Retrograde ejaculation assessment 

Retrograde ejaculation is when semen is ejaculated into the bladder instead of out via the penis. The bladder sphincter does not function correctly and allows semen to enter the bladder after ejaculation. A patient may experience orgasm but with very little, less than 1ml, or no semen. The urine may also appear cloudy after ejaculation due to the presence of semen. A urine sample collected after ejaculation can be used to confirm the presence of sperm in the urine. 

Lead biomedical scientists 

James Reed: tel 0300 019 8121, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Liane Carne: tel 0300 019 2793, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

The Andrology service is provided by the cytology laboratory located in the Poole hospital Pathology department; in the orange zone level one next to microbiology. 

Booking an appointment 

Appointments can only be made following a consultation with your GP or clinician. You will be given a sample pack containing a lab assessment form, a clear specimen bag and a quality assured specimen pot with a white lid and a pot weight written on the label. It is very important to use the correct container as these have been tested as harmless to sperm, therefore samples arriving in different pots will be rejected for assessment. 

You will need to telephone the laboratory between 1.30-4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) on 0300 019 2793 to make an appointment for your sample to be analysed. Scheduled appointments are available during the morning clinic hours Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If you arrive at the lab with your specimen without booking an appointment, the sample may be rejected for assessment and you will be asked to repeat the test. 

If, for any reason, you cannot attend the appointment, or wish to rearrange, please telephone us on the number above. If you fail to notify the laboratory, you will not automatically receive another appointment and will need to telephone to make another. 

All sample and result enquiries should be directed towards the biomedical scientists laboratory leads who will attempt to help. 

Out of hours service 

The laboratory does not provide an out of hours service for Andrology. 

Sample collection 

The laboratory does not currently have on-site production facilities and you will need to produce your sample at home. You must be hygienic, washing your hands and genital area beforehand. Samples should be produced by masturbation into the container provided. Withdrawal (coitus interruptus) is not recommended for collecting the sample as it is too easy to lose the first portion of the ejaculate and may contaminate your sample. Ordinary condoms or lubrication should be not be used to aid collection as they can contain spermicidal properties and affect how your sample looks under the microscope. 

Before producing your sample you must abstain from sexual activity for a minimum of 48 hours (but no longer than 7 days). It is vital that the whole sample is collected in the quality assured container provided. Before collecting your sample, keep your sample container at ambient room temperature 20-36 ֯C. Once the sample has been produced, label the container with your surname, forename, date of birth, date and time produced and NHS or hospital number if known. Complete the assessment form with your details and answer the questions about your specimen. Keep your sample warm (at body temperature) and inside the clear specimen bag provided whilst travelling to the laboratory, as sperm are sensitive to temperature changes. Aim to deliver the sample within 30 minutes of its production but no longer than 50 minutes. 

Special collection procedures 

For some members of the community it is not possible, due to ethnic or religious reasons, to produce a sample by masturbation. Please contact the laboratory for advice regarding producing your sample. 

Sample labelling 

Please write your name and date of birth clearly on the sample container.  

All samples must be provided in validated pots which have been assessed to ensure the toxicity of the sample container does not affect the sperm. This is vital for fertility assessment and any sample not submitted in the appropriate container will be rejected. If your doctor has given you the wrong container please contact the laboratory. 

Please ensure all aspects of the specimen request form within the patient information section are completed in full. The question regarding whether-or-not the complete sample has been collected is paramount to the certainty of the test result. Please read the patient instructions before booking your appointment.  

Sample transport 

It is vital that the sample is transported to the laboratory quickly, ideally within 30 minutes of production (but no longer than 50 minutes) and kept at body temperature. A cold sample will appear dead or immotile and may give a false impression of poor motility. Keep the sample warm, ideally by keeping it next to your skin e.g. in arm pit or under clothing to prevent sample cooling. Microwaving or using a hot water-bottle will cook sperm. 

Please do not leave your specimen without speaking to a staff member as samples will be rejected for assessment if we are missing information from you. 

Results 

To get an accurate interpretation of your results you will need to contact your GP surgery or clinician approximately 72 working hours after providing a specimen to the lab. If you have any issues obtaining your results or would like further assistance in understanding your results or the testing parameters, contact the laboratory on the same number you booked your appointment. For reasons of confidentiality the lab will not give results directly to patients or their relatives. 

Repeat tests 

We quite often ask for a repeat of your test because of one or more of the factors listed above may be outside the expected range. However, other factors can affect your fertility results e.g. previous illnesses, stress, alcohol, smoking or medication, therefore please bare this in mind when submitting a sample.