Better2Know Sexual health & STIs

Semen Culture

Semen sample cultured in the lab to check for a bacterial infection in men with symptoms such as pain during sex or urination. Also available as an at-home kit.

  • Male
Sample
Semen
Collection
Semen sample at clinic; also home kit £125
Results in
3 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Semen Culture

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
semen
Collection method
semen sample at clinic; also home kit £125
Turnaround time
3 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Male

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

  • Semen Culture

About this test

This test cultures a semen sample in the laboratory to check for a bacterial infection, which can cause pain during sex or urination and, left untreated, may affect fertility. Counted as a single biomarker, it sits in the lower part of the range for clinical depth among the sexual health tests we track, reflecting that it targets one specific type of infection rather than a broader STI panel.

Its £145 price is almost exactly the median for similarly sized sexual health tests, so it scores close to the middle on value for money. Better2Know also sells an at-home kit version of the same culture for £125, which is worth considering if you would rather not attend a clinic. The listing scores well for clarity, with a full description, a stated three-day turnaround and clear collection options.

The remaining scores reflect collection and follow-up. Providing the sample at a clinic in a private room is straightforward, and the at-home alternative adds flexibility, which is why it scores well for collection convenience. Results are not doctor-reviewed as standard, which is the main reason it loses marks on results and follow-up, though Better2Know says it can arrange a consultation if an infection is found. Trust signals reflect a 4.2 Trustpilot score from 775 reviews, CQC registration, and 18 years trading.

Who is it for?

This suits you if you have symptoms such as pain during sex or urination and want to check for a bacterial infection in semen, and you would rather provide the sample at a clinic in a private room than post a sample yourself.

If you would prefer to collect the sample at home, Better2Know's own at-home kit version of this test is available for £125. Better2Know has not linked this test to a named group of comparable products, so there is no data here on how it compares with other providers' STI panels.

How it works

You provide a semen sample at a Better2Know clinic, in a private room with a container provided on arrival. The sample is sent to the laboratory for culture, with results ready within three working days. You are notified by phone, email or text once your results are uploaded to Better2Know's secure online patient area. Results are not doctor-reviewed as standard, though Better2Know says it can arrange a consultation with a doctor if needed.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Straightforward in-clinic collection in a private room, with a container provided.
  • Results ready within three working days.
  • An at-home kit version of the same test is also available for £125.
  • Priced in line with the median for similarly sized sexual health tests.

Cons

  • Targets one type of infection rather than a broader STI panel.
  • No doctor review of your results as standard.
  • Requires attending a clinic rather than collecting the sample at home.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Clinic semen culture priced level with the category median
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

This test cultures a semen sample to check for a bacterial infection. At £145, it costs about the same as the typical price for similarly sized sexual health tests we track. Better2Know also offers an at-home kit version of this test, and results are not doctor-reviewed as standard.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 5.8/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 21st percentile of sexual health tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 7.0/10

    A semen sample you take at home, no needle; results in around 3 days, slower than similar tests.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 6.5/10

    £145.00 against a median of £145.00 for the 81 similarly sized sexual health tests we track (-0%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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