Reproductive science and andrology

Reproductive science is the science of creating life and providing solutions to infertility. Andrology focuses on the field of male reproduction.

You might work in embryology or andrology.

Working life

Within embryology, you will be:

  • dealing with infertility treatments including assisted conception procedures, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
  • involved in the collection and fertilisation of eggs from patients. Embryos are cultured, graded and selected for embryo transfer. Techniques associated with cryopreservation will be carried out to store patients’ samples.

Within andrology, you’d be focusing on the field of male reproduction. This could include:

  • spermatogenesis (the process of sperm cell development)
  • semen analyses
  • sperm function
  • fertilisation
  • contraception
  • cryopreservation (preserving tissues by cooling them to sub-zero temperatures).

Who would I work with?

You are likely to work in a team that includes other healthcare science staff working in the life sciences, obstetricians and gynaecologists, doctors specialising in genitourinary medicine, specialist nurses and counsellors.

Want to learn more?

Other roles that may interest you

Make a comment or report a problem with this page

Help us improve

This form is for you to tell us about something that could be improved about the website or if there's anything wrong, incorrect or inaccurate with what you see. 

If you have a query about a career in the NHS, please visit our contact us page and call or email us.