A DO-IT-YOURSELF fertility test for men will be available from chemists this month as research indicates that male infertility is a growing problem.

Manufacturers of the Fertell test, likely to cost about £80, claim that it will offer a result with 95 per cent accuracy within 75 minutes. The test works by forcing sperm to swim through a barrier that mimics a woman’s cervix. It then measures the number of sperm that swim beyond this point. These active sperm are a key indicator of male fertility.

A red line indicates a positive test, meaning that the sample contains more than 10 million active sperm per millilitre, which is classed as normal under World Health Organisation guidelines.

Research suggests that one in six British couples has fertility problems, and two million men may have low fertility. A recent study concluded that infertility may be becoming more of a male than female problem.

The creators of the Fertell test hope that it will assist men who are often too embarrassed to attend a clinic, and reduce the time that couples spend waiting for fertility test results.

Couples keen to conceive are often told to keep trying for a baby for longer before being sent for detailed analysis and fertility treatment.

The male device’s makers hope that GPs will fast-track couples who have used the DIY test.

Chris Barratt, from the University of Birmingham School of Medicine, who led the research into the device, said: “At the moment many couples are advised to wait for about a year before seeking medical attention, but age can have a very significant negative impact on fertility, so having reliable information at an early stage can be a huge advantage.”

He added: “The test has the advantage of being extremely straightforward to use.”

During the study the team looked at samples from 150 subjects. The test provided an accurate result in 95 per cent of cases, whether the original sample showed a negative or positive test result.

However, the makers point out that the test cannot diagnose all problems affecting fertility.

They say that couples under 35 who get normal results and yet are still struggling to conceive should seek medical help.

It is believed that about half of infertility cases in the UK with a known cause are due to problems in men or in both partners.

About 28,500 couples undergo IVF treatment in Britain each year, which overcomes a man’s low sperm count by placing the sperm — often the most active are picked out by doctors — close to the egg.

The Fertell test was developed in collaboration with the London-based medical devices company Genosis and will be available at Boots.

SEEDS OF DOUBT

• More than 2.5 million British men (9 per cent of the male population), could be suffering from low fertility
• Smoking, drinking and stress are believed to contribute to fertility problems in men
• 28,500 couples undergo IVF treatment in Britain each year
• A study last year suggested that men were overtaking women as the cause of infertility in relationships

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