The Scoop: In 2012, Trak released an FDA-approved test for measuring one’s sperm count from home. This innovative resource gave men the ability to learn more about their reproductive health without having to submit a semen sample to a clinic or lab. Sexually active men can use Trak’s testing technology to find out whether their average sperm count is low, moderate, or optimal and track their progress over time. Plus, the testing kit includes a resource manual that discusses ways men can bolster their reproductive health and start a family as soon as possible.
When a couple is trying to conceive a baby, it’s a two-person job, yet most of today’s fertility tracking tools focus on only one side of the issue — the female side.
An online search for fertility resources will yield a long list of ovulation calculators, menstrual calendars, and family planning apps that provide guidance and support to women while basically ignoring their male partners. This imbalanced market created an opening for Trak, a male fertility testing tool, to shed some light on a man’s reproductive standing.
Trak’s home testing kit helps men assess and improve their reproductive health.
Trak has developed a straightforward at-home test that can measure a man’s sperm count without requiring him to visit a lab or clinic. The results come back within minutes and let men know whether their sperm count is low, moderate, or optimal.
Greg Somer, Co-Founder and CSO of Trak, said the company’s goal is to look out for the interests of men who are either actively trying to conceive or are planning to have a family one day and want to learn more about their chances.
“For a lot of reasons, men are overlooked or bypassed entirely by the fertility industry,” Greg said. “We wanted to create a solution that would help men get tested, understand their sperm count, and take action to increase it.”
Men can learn about reproductive health on the Trak blog, use the at-home test to track their progress, and take the fertility quiz to learn how they can improve and start working toward their family goals.
Whether they’re dating, in a relationship, or married, men no longer have to wonder or worry when it comes to starting a family because Trak can provide accurate data, tracking, and recommendations that focus on the male side of fertility.
A Groundbreaking Idea Conceived in a Garage in California
Trak Co-Founders Greg Sommer, Ulrich Schaff, and Sara Naab started out as research scientists at Sandia Labs where they worked on care diagnostic tools. Their projects included some high-tech gadgets and gizmos that could be used by first responders, health care professionals, and other emergency workers during an outbreak.
“When you’re dealing with a big population to screen, you need deployable technology for doing blood tests and other medical tests,” Greg explained. “We recognized what we were doing had a lot of commercial potential, so we left our jobs and started a company.”
Sandstone Diagnostics Inc. is a true startup that began in 2012 with three scientists in the garage of a rental house in Livermore, California. Today, the company has expanded to include over a dozen passionate scientists and professionals working to make accurate medical testing more convenient and accessible to the public.
Sandstone Diagnostics Inc. has developed tools that put a new spin on at-home testing.
Trak was the first commercialized product to come out of this company, and the success of its at-home test kit has spurred the team to brainstorm new applications for its patented technology.
Greg told us his goal is to expand Sandstone’s Torq™ zero-delay centrifuge system to be used for blood tests as well as fertility tests. The team is currently developing a way for an individual to use a finger stick to collect a blood sample and test it immediately from home.
“At our heart and soul, we’re more of a tech and diagnostic company,” Greg said. “We want to develop new tests that are based on research, and hopefully bring those tests to the market.”
In the wake of COVID-19, testing is a buzzword in the medical community, and the work of Sandstone Diagnostics Inc. can support the development of telemedicine, pop-up clinics, and blood tests at home.
The FDA-Approved Male Fertility Test is Easy, Safe & Private
Trak started out as a one-time at-home test for measuring sperm count, but it has evolved into a more well-rounded health tracking and improvement tool.
A Trak male fertility kit comes with multiple sperm count tests and a reusable Trak engine so that men can measure their sperm count up to six times and get a better idea of where they stand. The test takes under 10 minutes to complete and rates the sperm count on an easy-to-understand comparative scale.
A Trak fertility test does not require men to visit a clinic, mail in samples, or wait for results to come back from a lab.
A man’s sperm count can vary substantially based on diet, stress, energy levels, and other factors, so it’s important for men to take multiple tests if they want to get an accurate baseline for their sperm count. Thanks to Trak, men can conduct these tests without visiting a fertility clinic.
In addition to providing an FDA-approved and urologist-trusted testing equipment, Trak delivers useful tips, strategies, and recommendations in its 27-page resource guide on men’s reproductive health. This pamphlet comes with every fertility kit and can inform men about the things they can do to up their sperm count.
“When it comes to getting pregnant, more is better,” Greg said. “The higher the sperm count, the more likely you are to get a woman pregnant, so we encourage men to take a proactive and early approach to maximize their sperm count.”
Men who are in committed relationships and trying to conceive make up about two-thirds of Trak’s customer base, but, surprisingly, some young single men have also turned to Trak to help them monitor their sperm count and plan for the future.
In some cases, a man may be taking steroids and wants to know how that’s impacting his long-term fertility. Or, if a man is sexually active and plans to be a father one day, so he can use the Trak test to find out if he needs to improve his reproductive health first. Greg said he has even heard testimonials from cancer survivors who want to increase their sperm count and start a family.
“My wife and I have been trying for 15 years,” said Brian in a Trak review. “It’s nice to see a product developed for us men to test ourselves.”
“Having a device like Trak Fertility brings a sense of control back to the user,” said Leah. “A great tool for those just starting to try for a family.”
Single Men & Couples Use Trak to Plan for the Future
Male fertility is a pressing issue that Trak has tackled by putting more information and power into the average man’s hands.
Rather than going to a clinic or lab, men can now use Trak to take a sperm count test from the privacy of home and get instant results that allow them to weigh their reproductive chances and plan accordingly. With its accurate testing and tracking tools, Trak offers the knowledge and support men need to be a responsible sexual partner and keep themselves at optimum health.
“Sperm count is a dynamic health parameter that can change based on diet, exercise, and other lifestyle factors,” Greg said. “Trak allows men to measure and keep track of their reproductive health from home. If you’re trying to conceive, this is a good opportunity to take steps to optimize your fertility and really help your month to month chances.”
