Sperm Counts
Inside Health
BBC
4.4 • 575 Ratings
🗓️ 21 February 2023
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
James Gallagher investigates whether there is a decline in male sperm including the results of his own sperm count analysis. He meets a couple who conceived after having treatment for a varicocele, enlarged veins in the testes that can heat the sperm up and the leading known cause of male infertility. And James is joined by leading scientists in the field to debate whether sperm counts are falling.
Producer: Erika Wright
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'm Ed Gamble, host of another BBC podcast, |
| 0:05.4 | The Traitors Uncloaked. But my show is available only on BBC Sounds, just like Ellis and John's |
| 0:10.6 | Saturday bonus episodes, the Pop Top Ten podcast with Scott Mills and Ryland, and comedy specials |
| 0:16.2 | from the likes of Harriet Kemsley, Susie Ruffel and Rommas Shranger Nathan. However, and maybe I'm biased, it's really all about the traitors uncloked. |
| 0:24.3 | So for a whole bunch of exclusive scoops and podcasts, listen only on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.3 | Okay, so this is the Apology Suite. |
| 0:33.8 | So if you just follow me. |
| 0:35.2 | Thank you. |
| 0:36.1 | Hello there, and welcome to the Inside Health podcast. I just take a seat on the chair for me there. So this is room three. This is where you'll be producing your sample today. For this edition, I'm doing a test that I'll be honest is both intimate and intimidating. So can I just please first to get you to confirm your name? James Gallagher. |
| 0:54.4 | Perfect. |
| 0:55.1 | And can I get you to confirm which test you're here for today? |
| 0:58.0 | Semen analysis? |
| 0:59.1 | Perfect. |
| 0:59.9 | Yeah, we're talking sperm counts and whether they're falling. |
| 1:03.5 | Basically, just to say that you must produce your sample via masturbation only. |
| 1:08.3 | Try not to use any lubrications or any saliva if possible. If you do need |
| 1:12.7 | lubrication, give us a call and we can provide you with a sperm-friendly lubrication. Just a couple of |
| 1:18.8 | things to note on the form. You will need to confirm whether you've had a fever in the last three months. |
| 1:24.6 | I have not. Perfect. You will need to state your abstinence, |
| 1:28.9 | which should be between two and five days. It is between two and five. This is the specimen pot. |
| 1:35.4 | Once you're done producing your sample, just pop it into the clear specimen bag there, |
| 1:40.0 | and then you can give us a call. Thank you very much. So I'll leave you to it, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

