A random question for males

[resonant]

Are guys routinely asked to provide semen samples at the doctor's office? Or is that only when your sperm count is actually relevant, like if you're having fertility problems?

Comments

[ekaterin.livejournal.com]

I am not male, but my husband is... As far as I know, he was only asked once to give sperm at the doctor's office, and that was to do a sperm count.

[moonpupy.livejournal.com]

Same as above, not me, but hubby is. He says no. Never been asked. He's had his prostate probed, but not his sperm sampled.

roflmao

[cold-poet.livejournal.com]

Also not a guy but....a former fling of mine was a Navy boy...they made him give a sample when he went overseas, something about sperm count and possible paternity suits and DNA....

My boyfriend is 31 and he says that he knows of no reason other than fertility issues for a sample to be given.

Hope that helps.

[raine-wynd.livejournal.com]

From what I understand of medicine (not a guy, just a woman working in continuing medical education), collecting sperm's not common. It's not the male equivalent of a Pap smear; it's more the "let's run this test because we have cause." Some ideas on what's tested:
http://my.webmd.com/search/search_results/?query=collecting+sperm&filter=mywebmd_all_filter

[zoerayne]

shadowowl says: "I've only been asked to supply a semen sample once--after my vasectomy. Also, FYI, I didn't have to generate it in the office, but only had to bring the sample (in a previously provided container) with me from home within a certain timeframe."

[mz-bstone.livejournal.com]

Not male, but nope ... not generally asked for sperm samples in Canada.

B

[minotaurs.livejournal.com]

Have never been asked for semen sample, not in routine or specific testing.

[special-trille.livejournal.com]

I did not read that and immediately think of McKay/Sheppard plot bunnies.

I didn't.

...maybe just a little

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Or Beckett/m plot bunnies... ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Why do you want to know? Ficcies?

[bruinsfan.livejournal.com]

In 35 years I've never had a doctor ask me for a sperm sample, so I assume it's only requested when relevant. Or in prison. [/Chandler]

By the way, hi. A friend from Farscape fandom recommended your fic, and I've been greedily gobbling up your SG: Atlantis stories since. Very fun to read!

[oxoniensis.livejournal.com]

Following random links...

I'm not a guy, but I am a biomedical scientist, and semen analysis is part of my job. The only specimens we ever receive are either for subfertility testing or post-vasectomy checking.

[mzcalypso.livejournal.com]

Testing for fertility or criminal activity (rape) are the only situations I know of. The military/paternity issue is kind of creepy, but might be a good idea.

If I were male and in the military, I'd have semen frozen if I wanted to have kids. They're making shell casings out of nuclear waste--I'm not making this up--and nobody knows yet what long-term effects that'll have on the guys who work with 'em. Or the people living in the war zones.

[jack-pride.livejournal.com]

Aren't you supposed to get a Pap smear once a year? ;)

[jack-pride.livejournal.com]

::rereads::

NOT the male equivalent. What an important difference that one word makes. *g*

[resonant8.livejournal.com]

Wow, I never thought of that. (Of course, a cynical part of me thinks, "And they might need evidence for a sexual assault case, too ...")

[resonant8.livejournal.com]

Yep. I had one character saying, "I've never had to do this on demand before," and then suddenly I thought, "Well, but what if he has?"

[resonant8.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Glad you liked them.

[cold-poet.livejournal.com]

Heh. That very same cynical thought came to me as well....

But he at least was a very nice guy...with very pretty tattoos....hummmm...*wg*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Hehehe, I just can't stop thinking of Ben Elton whenever this subject comes up.

[devianttouch.livejournal.com]

For paternity suits and sexual assault cases they would not use semen/sperm if a better sample is availible. Better to use whole cells for that (such as blood), because each sperm only contains 1/2 your genetic material.