Fellow’s Accuracy of Mail-In Semen Analysis Published in Fertility & Sterility®

As a clinician, you've probably heard about different mail-in semen analysis companies. You may be skeptical of how such a product can offer clinically accurate semen analysis results.

We're proud to announce that we’ve published a peer-reviewed paper in Fertility and Sterility® that shows the results from our mail-in kit are as accurate as a traditional clinic.

It’s one of the highest levels of achievement to have your work published in a peer-reviewed journal. And it's an even greater honor to have our work published in Fertility and Sterility®, as that is the official publication of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). ⁠
Being published in this peer-reviewed journal shows that our work has undergone rigorous scientific methods and that a panel of experts have reviewed our findings and agree that they are valid. At Fellow, we have your best interests in mind by upholding the highest scientific, ethical and regulatory standards.

What’s so groundbreaking about the publication?

Our paper in Fertility and Sterility is the first publication to show that a mail-in semen analysis (The Fellow Semen Analysis specifically) can give results as accurate as a traditional clinic. While this may seem simple and straightforward to the casual reader, it’s actually quite groundbreaking. Let’s dig in.

It’s no secret that sperm cells start to die within a few hours outside the human body. Because of this sperm degradation, the World Health Organization has only recognized semen analyses that are performed within 1 hour of ejaculation as accurate. When we created a mail-in semen analysis, this time constraint was the biggest challenge. How do you provide the patient with accurate results when you receive and analyze the sample hours or days after the sample was created?

From day one, Fellow has been dedicated to solving this problem. To give people a true view into their fertility, we need to provide the most accurate semen analysis results. This is how we ensure our results match the gold standard:

• First, our kit is designed to protect samples so that fewer sperm die en route to our lab. The kit includes a preservation solution that extends the life of the sample and a gel pack that keeps the sample at the right temperature.
• Second, we developed an algorithm that accurately models the rate of sperm degradation over time, allowing us to calculate the sample’s metrics as if it was produced in a clinic.

To develop this technology, we tested varying types of preservation solutions (this includes different chemical compounds, pH buffers, ions, etc) to find one that is best in extending the life of sperm. We also performed multiple semen analyses on the same sample over hours and days with varying temperatures to measure how the sample changes throughout time and temperature changes. By plotting these changes in the samples over time, we found a pattern that allowed us to then predict how samples change over time with a high degree of accuracy.

Using Fellow in your Clinic

Our validated technology, easy to understand results, and convenient process is why Fellow is recommended by doctors across the country. Our results are accurate and can be used to make clinical decisions. Not only that, 92% of patients prefer at home testing so using Fellow can help your clinic with patient compliance.

Learn more about how Fellow can work with your clinic.

Schedule a call with Fellow to learn more.