Home fertility tests for men and women have been unveiled at a conference which started today. It is hoped that the tests, which will be available over the counter at pharmacists, could prevent potentially costly delays in seeking treatment due to the "embarrassment factor". The sperm test will be able to find out, with 95% accuracy, whether sperm are sufficiently "motile" - or able to reach the egg and fertilize it.

This is the most important quality which determines whether a man is fertile or sub-fertile.

The test was developed in the UK by a team at the University of Birmingham and the city's women's hospital, led by Chris Barratt, a professor of reproductive medicine. Said Barratt: "It is important that if there is a problem with fertility that it is identified quickly so that the couple can seek treatment. After a certain age, the chances of successful fertility treatment decline very quickly. Many men feel embarrassed about visiting their GP or hospital clinic to provide a semen sample - hopefully this will be an alternative."

Women's test

Women also will get their own home urine test, which when used at a certain point in their cycle, will reveal the levels of a hormone important in fertility. While there are a number of tests which can be carried out by doctors to check why a woman might not be conceiving, the presence or absence of this hormone is a significant sign.

However, the ingenuity of the sperm testing kit will be revealed at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Lausanne today.

Testing at home

The test kit determines if the sperm can travel at least 0.7cm. This is the smallest distance the sperm need to travel to pass the test. Then, they will react with antibodies on a strip and produce a red line.

Professor Barratt said: "Testing can take place in the comfort of one's own home - 30% of men who book sperm tests at our clinic never show up."

While the female test will be available later this year, the sperm test will not hit the shops until February next year.

Professor Barratt said he was hopeful that the UK NHS would take it up and allow the tests to be prescribed. There is no word as to whether or not the test is available for use in the US.