Retrograde ejaculation analysis: on-site production instructions

• Andrology Department, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
  Telephone: 01233 616145 or 01233 616821

  My appointment is booked for: ___________________________________

Why have I been asked to produce a sample?

Your doctor may suspect you have a condition called retrograde ejaculation. To help with your diagnosis, we would like to analyse your urine and semen (where possible).

What do you look for in my sample?

The results of your test will give us information about:

• Whether there is sperm in your urine.

• If you produce semen, we can assess any sperm present for:

  • Motility - if the sperm are moving and, if so, how quickly.

  • Concentration - number of sperm.

  • Morphology - the shape and size of individual sperm.

  This information will be passed back to your doctor. They will interpret your results, and guide you in any next steps you might need to take.

Before your appointment

You must abstain (do not have sex or masturbate) for between 2 and 7 days before your appointment. If you fail to do this, we might not accept your sample.

Check that you have all your relevant paperwork. This includes your Cellular Pathology request form from your doctor, and a declaration signed by you. The declaration is included in this instruction pack. Please complete as much of the declaration as you can before your appointment. There will be questions that you will not be able to answer until after you have produced your sample. The form must be completed by you, the patient.

Sample pots will be provided for you at your appointment.

We will not be able to see you if you arrive without a Cellular Pathology request form from your doctor.

What if I’m late for my appointment?

If you think you will be late or cannot attend your appointment, please phone us as soon as possible on 01233 616145 or 01233 616821. This allows us to give your appointment to another patient.

Where do I go when I arrive at the hospital?

Please go to the Spencer Wing at the William Harvey Hospital (see map below). Please do not go to Pathology reception in the main hospital.

What do I do when I get there?

When you arrive at the reception area of the Spencer Wing, telephone our administration team on 01233 616145 or 01233 616821. Let them know you have arrived, and take a seat in the waiting area. A member of the Andrology team will meet you there.

We ask that you try to empty your bladder before producing your semen sample. There are toilets in the reception area for you to use. Please go to the toilet before your appointment.

Our andrologist will greet you and walk you to the production room. They will:

• check your paperwork;

• give you a sample pot;

• explain the process; and

• answer any questions you might have.

They will leave you in the production room to produce your sample. The door to the production room must be locked, so you have complete privacy. If you feel more comfortable, your partner can stay with you in the room. You will be given a remote doorbell to alert our staff member once you have produced your sample.

After you have pressed the doorbell, the andrologist will return to check you have completed the remaining parts of your declaration. They will give you a urine sample pot, and direct you to the toilets so you can provide a urine sample.

What happens afterwards?

If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. Once the andrologist has confirmed everything is acceptable, they will take you back to the Spencer Wing reception. You can now leave the hospital.

When will I get my results?

We will send out an electronic and a postal copy of your results to your requesting doctor within 7 days of your test. If you were referred by a hospital consultant, you will usually get your results at your next appointment.

Please note this is not a Cellular Pathology request form.  We cannot process your sample without your request form that your doctor gave to you.

What do you think of this leaflet?

We welcome feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us to improve our care and services.

If you would like to give us feedback about this leaflet, please fill in our short online survey. Either scan the QR code below, or use the web link. We do not record your personal information, unless you provide contact details and would like to talk to us some more.

If you would rather talk to someone instead of filling in a survey, please call the Patient Voice Team.

• Patient Voice Team
  Telephone: 01227 868605
  Email