In plain words
A semen analysis is a lab test of a semen sample. It measures how many sperm are present, how many move, and what share have a typical shape. It is usually one of the first tests in a fertility check. The man provides a sample after a short period without ejaculation, often two to seven days. Results are compared with reference values from the World Health Organization. One sample is not the whole picture, because sperm counts vary from day to day and over weeks. If a result is low, the test is usually repeated, and a clinician may check hormone levels or look for causes such as a , which is an enlarged vein in the scrotum. A normal result does not guarantee pregnancy, and an abnormal one does not rule it out. Couples often read the results together with a clinician.
The deeper version
Semen analysis under the WHO laboratory manual (6th edition, 2021) assesses volume, concentration, total and progressive motility, vitality, and morphology using standardized criteria. Reference limits are the fifth-percentile values from fertile reference populations: concentration 16 million per mL, total motility 42 percent, and normal morphology 4 percent. Abstinence of two to seven days is standard before collection. Repeat testing is usual when results are abnormal because within-man variation is substantial. History covers or anabolic steroid use, heat exposure, prior surgery, and infection. Examination covers varicocele and testicular volume, and FSH and testosterone are measured if parameters are low. The fifth-percentile limits describe a population distribution and are not, on their own, a threshold for .
Where it comes up
- Trying to conceive: how long is normal, when to ask for helpBefore Pregnancy
- Your partner's health before conceptionBefore Pregnancy
- Trimester Zero: preparing your body before pregnancyBefore Pregnancy
What mothers here say about semen analysis
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Sources
- World Health Organization — WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition, 2021