A new DIY male fertility test which allows men to carry out sperm count checks in the privacy of their own home has gone on sale in the UK for the first time.

Boots stores across Britain started selling the US-designed SpermCheck fertility kit this weekend.

It takes just 10 minutes for a man to test if his sperm count is below normal or average. As reported by Sky News, the makers of the test - which looks similar to a home pregnancy kit - say it is 98% accurate.

Although it can determine a man's sperm count, it is unable to determine the sperm's health.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, SpermCheck chief executive Ray Lopez said: "With this test we can truly help couples suffering from infertility.

"A lot of the time, the woman is the one who is burdened with finding out what is wrong, but the reality of the situation is that in 40% to 60% of cases, male factor infertility is to blame."

In the UK, about one in six couples have difficulty conceiving a child.

About a fifth of young men have a low sperm count, which is the cause of infertility in about 20% of couples.

(Retrieved from DailyMirror on 27 Oct 2013