There are plenty of jokes surrounding the process of collecting semen. The truth of the matter is that it is not a laughing matter. It is simply a fact of life. There is little, if anything, romantic about the process of collecting semen to be taken in for testing, insemination, or any of the other processes that are done with sperm. It can be very difficult for your partner to do.

It is recommended that your partner abstain from ejaculating for forty-eight to seventy-two hours prior to the collection of the semen for your insemination. This will ensure the highest quality and quantity sperm available.

Standard Collection

Typically what happens is that the man is given a specimen container, usually a small cup with a lid on it. The cup is marked with his name or patient ID number so that specimens are not confused in the laboratory. He is then taken to the collection room.

Collection rooms vary widely from fertility center to fertility center. Some fertility centers have comfortable chairs, erotic magazines, or videos for your partner to use to help him achieve erection, arousal, and ejaculation. You may or may not be able to stay with your partner during the collection process. If you are able to stay with your partner, you are welcome to help him masturbate. Though it is not recommended that you fellate him. Remember that the bacterial count is higher in your mouth than anywhere else in your body. Basically said, spit harms sperm.

Some centers do not have specific collection rooms. They may use bathrooms as their collection rooms, and they may not have any “reading” material to help your husband with arousal. Your partner may also choose to bring erotic materials from home.

There are a few centers that allow the semen sample to be taken via a special condom. This can be much easier to obtain and it allows you to do the collecting at home. The sample is then required to be in the office within about thirty minutes. Be sure to ask if this is an option for your therapy.

Difficulties with Collection

Sometimes the collection process may be difficult and actually require medical help. If your partner has a medical condition, like a spinal cord injury, or is unable to ejaculate for whatever reason, he may be able to ejaculate in a nontraditional manner, using an alternative method such as vibratory stimulation (VS) or electroejaculation (EEJ).

Vibratory stimulation is done as an office procedure. A medical grade vibratory is placed at the base of the glans and used to stimulate the penis to erection and ejaculation. For this form of ejaculatory help your partner must have an intact ejaculatory reflex arc.

The other option for medical help with ejaculation is the electroejaculation (EEJ). This procedure requires general anesthesia, unless your partner has a spinal cord injury (in which case he would not have feeling in this area to begin with). A special probe that emits an electrical current is placed inside the rectum, near your partner's prostate. The jolt from this current will induce an ejaculatory response. The semen is then collected and used as any other specimen for insemination.

The bottom line is that the collection of semen is a vital part to the insemination process. It can be a very simple or very mechanical event. Either way, it is likely to bring up many emotions for you and your partner. Talking about both of your feelings before the actual collection is vital.