Sperm culture

The lab places your sample in conditions where bacteria and fungi can grow, then identifies whatever appears. Instead of a vague "there might be an infection", you get a name, and a name is what a doctor needs to choose the right treatment, or to decide that no treatment is needed at all.

When the report includes which antibiotics work against the bacteria found, your doctor can go straight to the one that will do the job, rather than trying one and waiting to see.

A sperm culture makes sense when there is a specific question to answer. That might be pain during or after ejaculation, discomfort in the pelvis, testicles or lower back that doesn't settle, or a semen analysis showing raised white blood cells, which can point to inflammation in the reproductive tract.

It also answers a different question from a semen analysis. A semen analysis counts your sperm and looks at how they move and how they're shaped, while a culture looks for infection. During a fertility work-up, the two often go together, because when an infection is affecting sperm quality, it's something that can be treated.

You don't need a sperm culture just because you're trying to conceive. Its value is in investigating a concern you or your doctor already have.

The quality of the result depends on the quality of the sample, so these steps matter:

• Antibiotics and probiotics: leave at least 15 days between your last dose and the test, because they can hide bacteria and give you a false negative. If you're on a prescribed antibiotic, never stop it to take the test, and ask the doctor who prescribed it about timing.
• Before you start: pee first, so the sample isn't mixed with bacteria from your urethra.
• How to collect: by masturbation only, straight into the sterile container, without lubricants, creams or condoms, as all of these can affect what grows in the lab.
• The whole sample: collect all of the ejaculate in the container. If some of it is lost, tell the lab when you hand it in.

A positive result names what was found, and your doctor reads it alongside your symptoms and any other tests, because some bacteria can come from the skin during collection. A negative result means nothing relevant grew in this test. It's genuinely good news, though it doesn't explain every kind of discomfort, so if your symptoms continue, keep looking for the cause with your doctor.

Buy the test online, collect your sample at home, and bring it to a partner lab during collection hours, in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or Málaga. Your results come back ready to share with your doctor, with a name for what was found and, where relevant, the antibiotics that work against it.

Does a sperm culture test for STIs?

Not for the common ones. A culture finds bacteria and fungi that grow in the lab, and some infections, like chlamydia and gonorrhoea, need their own specific test. If those are what you want to rule out, an STI test is the right choice, and you can do both.

Is it useful if I have no symptoms?

Sometimes. If a semen analysis showed raised white blood cells, a culture can be worth doing even when you feel completely fine. Without symptoms or a result that points to infection, it's usually not needed.

Can it diagnose prostatitis?

Not on its own. Prostate symptoms need a medical assessment, and a sperm culture is one piece of that investigation, not the whole answer.

If the result is positive, does my partner need treatment too?

It depends on what was found. A positive culture doesn't automatically mean a sexually transmitted infection, and if one is identified, your doctor will tell you whether your partner should be tested or treated.

Can I take the test while on antibiotics?

It's better not to, because antibiotics can stop bacteria growing in the lab and hide an infection. Wait at least 15 days after your last dose, and never stop a prescribed course without talking to the doctor who prescribed it.

What if the pain is severe?

Don't wait for a test result. If you can't pee, or you have a fever together with strong pain in the pelvis or genitals, get urgent medical care today.

This content is for information only. Your results should be interpreted by a healthcare professional, who can also advise you on any diagnosis or treatment.