Lab Results · 5 min read · Due Team
Understanding Your Semen Analysis Results
A semen analysis is the first and most important step in evaluating male fertility. Here's how to read the key parameters and what they actually mean.
A semen analysis measures several characteristics of a sperm sample. It's the starting point for evaluating the male factor in fertility — and since male factor contributes to roughly half of all fertility challenges, it's a test that should happen early in any workup.
The key parameters
Volume: Normal is 1.5 mL or more.
Concentration (count): Normal is 16 million per mL or more. Below this is called oligospermia.
Total motility: Normal is 42% or more.
Progressive motility: Normal is 30% or more. This is the subset most relevant to reaching and fertilizing an egg.
Morphology: Normal by WHO criteria is 4% or more — meaning up to 96% abnormal-looking sperm is considered normal.
Total motile sperm count (TMSC): Concentration × volume × motility. Above 20 million is generally considered good for natural conception.
What abnormal results mean
One abnormal semen analysis is not a diagnosis. Sperm quality fluctuates with illness, stress, heat exposure, and lifestyle factors. Most providers repeat the analysis before drawing conclusions.
The bottom line
Semen analysis results require context. What matters most is the overall picture, particularly TMSC, and whether a follow-up analysis confirms the findings.
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