A fertility problem can be diagnosed on either the male or female side, or in both partners. Therefore, equal access to male and female infertility diagnosis is essential. The National Health Fund has changed the way it funds one of the basic tests for male infertility - the seminogram - as of January 1, 2024.
Important examination for men financed by the National Health Fund
Published Jan. 17, 2024 12:10
The test is referred by a specialist (details below). The National Health Service will pay for any seminogram performed on the basis of a referral.
What does a semen test for the National Health Service cover?
Seminogram is a basic and non-invasive test performed in the diagnosis of male infertility.
During the test, general semen parameters are analyzed, such as:
- volume
- ejaculate viscosity
- liquefaction time
- pH
- appearance of semen
- total sperm count in semen
- number of sperm in 1 ml of ejaculate
- percentage of live and moving sperm
- as well as possible agglutination (clustering) of spermatozoa and its severity.
- Seminogram is the basic test used in the diagnosis of male infertility, which should begin in parallel with the diagnosis of the woman. Until now, semen examination (seminogram) was carried out as part of the procedure "Microscopic examination of biological material - direct preparation". Due to the increasing cost of the examination, it was separated from the group of microscopic examinations as a separate item in the Regulation of the Minister of Health on guaranteed services in the field of outpatient specialized care, and priced by the Agency for the Assessment of Medical Technologies and Tarification (AOTMiT)," points out Dr. Maciej Karaszewski, deputy director of the Department of Health Care Services at the National Health Fund Headquarters.
Who can benefit from a free semen test?
The test is performed in adult males:
- Who have tried unsuccessfully with their partner for at least 12 months to get pregnant in a situation where the partner is under 35 years of age, or
- Who have tried unsuccessfully with their partner for at least 6 months to get pregnant in a situation where the partner is over 35 years old, or
- with a diagnosis according to the ICD-10 classification: "N46 Male Infertility".
- whose partner was qualified for intrauterine insemination.
Who orders the semen test?
The doctor, as part of a specialized consultation, at the clinic:
- obstetrics-gynecology
- urology
- endocrinology
- andrology
- infertility treatments
- family planning and reproduction,
Orders the test, evaluates the result and plans further diagnostic and therapeutic management.
How to prepare for a semen test?
From 3 to 5 days before the test:
- exercise sexual restraint
- don't drink alcohol
- limit cigarette smoking
- avoid excessive exertion.
These factors affect the result and can falsify it.
Also inform your doctor about any medications you have taken in the past 3 months and recent illnesses.
Source: NFZ
