Post Date December, 03 2023
A month ago, the FDA approved the use of the Trak centrifuge, which is currently priced at $159.99 and will be released this autumn.
The Trak centrifuge is simple to use. Men only need to use a dropper to sample their semen and then add it to the centrifuge's centrifuge hole. After starting the equipment, the semen is separated under the action of centrifugal force. Due to the difference of sedimentation coefficient, spermatid is deposited at the bottom of the hole, and the number of sperm can be simply calculated. Therefore, using this tool to measure sperm count at home is very feasible.
Infertility is a common problem that is currently difficult to solve worldwide, with almost one out of every eight couples experiencing this problem. In many regions, people have erroneous judgments and common sense about infertility, always finding problems with women who perform reproductive functions, especially in economically and culturally underdeveloped regions. But in fact, this is very unscientific. After examination and diagnosis, 40% of couples with infertility are due to male reproductive dysfunction. The low number of sperm, which cannot reach the normal range, is the main manifestation of male infertility. Therefore, the original intention of the Trak centrifuge was to help men pay attention to this issue.
Dr. Mike Hsieh, a urology expert who studies male fertility at the University of San Diego, said that when it comes to going to a fertility doctor, men tend to shrink back. In fact, we hope to understand some specific situations regarding their fertility, find out the problem, and help them take some positive response measures. However, most couples are unwilling to face such problems, let alone admit that they have problems with their reproductive function.
Sandstone CEO Reg Somme also stated, "It is a psychological barrier that many couples find difficult to overcome, from perceiving their fertility issues to actually seeking treatment from a doctor
At present, many countries in the world have not effectively paid attention to the issue of infertility, so no fertility centers have been established. The existing procedures for semen collection and testing in fertility centers can also make many couples feel embarrassed and expensive. And the Trak centrifuge helps patients avoid the embarrassment of going to the hospital for examination, and the price is relatively low.
Sandstone is not the first company to launch home DIY sperm testing, as a type of sperm self test strip called Spermcheck had already appeared. Men can use this test strip at home to quickly detect the concentration of sperm in semen. It only takes 10 minutes to obtain both positive and negative results, and users can know whether their sperm count is within the normal range of conception. Spermcheck test strips have already been sold in the United States, but they are currently only available online at a price of $39.99 and have achieved good sales.
So far, apart from Trak centrifuge and Spermcheck test strips, there are no other products that allow men to self test sperm concentration at home. It can be said that Trak centrifuge is a very valuable product. For the detection of female infertility, there are various over-the-counter fertility tracking drugs, urine testing tools, temperature monitoring programs, ovulation tracking apps, and so on. For men, the options available for reference are very limited.
It should be clarified that through this home DIY measurement method, it is clear whether the sperm concentration of men is within the normal range, but even within the normal range, there is still a possibility of infertility. Because sperm motility (which determines whether sperm can swim into the uterus from the testes), semen volume, sperm morphology, etc. are also important factors affecting fertility.
This can also bring some problems, such as the hidden danger of home DIY testing, which many patients believe can replace seeking medical treatment in the hospital. However, in reality, it is only an auxiliary method and cannot replace doctors' diagnosis and treatment.
