Specialty Content

Andrology specialty

Andrology covers semen analysis, sperm function, cryopreservation, and fertility-investigation workflows under HFEA regulation.

Where the content lives

• Interview page — /andrology-interviews — Band 2 through Band 8 questions
• Result Interpretation (andrology) — open /result-interpretation and click the Andrology card — WHO semen analysis criteria, morphology and motility
• Specialist Portfolio (Andrology) — /portfolio → Specialist Portfolio → Andrology

Key competencies covered

• WHO 2021 semen analysis criteria — current 6th edition reference values
• Sperm morphology assessment — strict Kruger criteria
• Sperm motility grading — progressive, non-progressive, immotile
• Cryopreservation techniques — slow-freeze, vitrification
• Anti-sperm antibody testing — direct and indirect IBT, MAR
• Surgical sperm retrieval (SSR) — TESE, PESA, MESA handling
• Sperm function tests — HOS, DNA fragmentation
• Quality control in andrology — Bland-Altman analysis, NEQAS Andrology
• HFEA regulatory requirements — licensed activities, traceability, witnessing

Bands progression

• Band 5 (£32,073-£39,043) — qualified BMS performing routine semen analysis under HFEA traceability, basic cryopreservation
• Band 6 (£39,959-£48,117) — specialist morphology assessment, complex case analysis, validation, training; usually requires Specialist Portfolio in Andrology
• Band 7 (£49,387-£56,515) — Person Designate or Person Responsible duties under HFEA, governance, audit

Standards alignment

• WHO 6th edition (2021) — semen analysis criteria
• HFEA Code of Practice — current edition
• Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) guidance
• British Andrology Society (BAS) clinical guidance
• UK NEQAS Andrology scheme requirements
• ISO 15189:2022 quality framework
• EUTCD (EU Tissues and Cells Directive — retained UK law post-Brexit)

Common interview question themes (Band 5-7)

• "Walk me through your semen-analysis QC programme"
• "How do you handle a sample with very low count for cryopreservation?"
• "What does WHO 2021 change vs the 2010 edition?"
• "How is patient traceability maintained in andrology under HFEA?"
• "Describe how you would respond to a NEQAS Andrology failure"

Practice Tests filtered to Andrology + your target Band, paired with the Result Interpretation module, gives strong technical preparation.