For male partners wanting to know more of what they may experience during IVF treatment
Producing a Semen Sample on the Day of Egg Collection
In Victoria - On the day of your partner's egg collection you will be asked to produce a 'split ejaculate'. You will be given two sterile containers (which have been taped together and labelled "1" and "2") to enable you to produce the first part of the ejaculate into Jar "1" and the remainder into Jar "2". (You may wish to practice the 'split ejaculate' procedure, to allay any anxiety on the day)
The majority of sperm are present in the first part of the ejaculate. The 'split ejaculate' process allows for easier retrieval of sperm for subsequent insemination of your partner's eggs.
If you are unsure of what is required with the 'split ejaculate', we recommend that you discuss your concerns with either an andrologist, embryologist or patient coordinator prior to your partner's egg collection. If you have difficulty producing into two containers please let us know. Depending on your semen analysis result it may be acceptable to produce into a single container.
In Queensland - Split ejaculates are not used, therefore, producing into a single container is acceptable.
Please ensure 3-5 days of abstinence from sexual activity prior to your partner's egg collection date.
Do not abstain for longer than 5 days.
When your partner is given times for hCG and egg collection, we will also notify you of the time you will be required to produce your sample.
- Prior to producing your sample, please urinate and wash your hands.
- Ensure that you have removed the top/s from the jar/s.
- After you have produced your sample, we ask you to wait approximately half an hour while we assess the sample. You will be notified if a second sample is required, if not you may leave. If you have been asked to produce a second sample, you will not be required to wait for the results but will be asked to provide a contact number.
Providing a semen sample on the day of the egg collection can be embarrassing and stressful. We will endeavour to make this event as easy as possible for you. The personnel who will be dealing with you and your sample are doing their normal day's work and, although it may not seem so to you, find it quite commonplace.
Instead of producing the sample at the clinic, it may be produced off the premises and brought to the clinic in the appropriate sterile container, provided the time to travel is within one hour. Please make sure your correct name is on the container.
The sample may also be collected by intercourse. Your partner may accompany you, and a special condom available from the Andrology laboratory at Monash IVF, can be used to collect your sample. Commonly used condoms contain spermicides that kill sperm and cannot be used to collect specimens.
When men are anxious and having difficulty producing a sample, a couple of hours break (ie walk or a movie) may help. Please inform our staff, so that they can adjust their laboratory schedule.
Monash Reproductive Pathology & Genetics (the Andrology department at Monash IVF) also has the capacity to freeze your sperm. It could be used as a back-up if you have difficulty producing on the day of your partner's egg collection. Due to the rigorous nature of the freezing procedure, there is a reduction in sperm quality after freezing, so two or three samples may be required to compensate. In some cases we will be unable to successfully freeze your sperm. If freezing is required it should be done at least three weeks before your partner's egg collection date. Fees apply for sperm storage (billed every 6 months). Unfortunately not all semen freezes well and this procedure is not suitable for everyone.