London.– Men can now test their fertility in the privacy of their homes. Doctors said most men were shy of visiting their GPs and getting tested.  

Their problem has been solved by scientists at Birmingham University. They have developed the first over-the-counter test it yourself kit. It goes on sale next week. 

Called the Fertell test and costing £79.99, it works in less than an hour and gives couples an early warning of potential fertility problems. Its a simple "red line" test, designed to alert couples. The kits also include a female fertility test.  

Researchers looked at samples from 150 men and they claim the test provided an accurate result in 95 per cent of cases. They said the test, which is available now, could cut the wait for fertility treatment by up to a year. 

Prof Chris Barratt, who led the research, said: "At the moment many couples are advised to wait for around a year before seeking medical attention. But age can have a very significant negative impact on fertility, so having reliable information at an early stage can be a huge advantage." 

To conduct the test the man produces a sample, sets the device and within an hour will find out whether he has enough sperm to fertilize a female egg. The test works by forcing sperm to swim through a barrier mimicking the female cervix.  

It then measures the number of sperm which get beyond this point. If a high enough level of active sperm is present in the sample, a red line indicates a positive test. 

During the development of the test the research team analyzed over 3,000 individual sperm samples. Nationally as many as one in six couples will have to undergo personal testing to assess the possibility of them starting a family. Research suggests more than two million men may have low fertility.