What do semen analysis results mean?
If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, it may be time for both of you to get fertility testing. You may be the one who isn’t getting pregnant, but about a third of the time, the roadblock isn’t with the woman at all. Instead, it’s the male partner. A semen analysis is a simple test that can determine if a male factor might be one reason you’re not getting pregnant on your own.
Understanding the results of a semen analysis
After your partner provides a semen sample, specialists at our South Austin IVF lab evaluate it for sperm count, the ability of the sperm to swim, whether they move in the right direction, the size and shape of the sperm, the total volume of semen, and the ability of the semen to liquefy.
While the range of “normal” may vary, basic guidelines for what’s considered “normal” can help you understand semen analysis results.
- Total volume – 2.5 mL of semen is considered normal
- Sperm count – A normal count is 40 million to 300 million sperm per mL
- Motility and velocity – At least 50% of sperm should be active, and a score of 2 on a scale of 0-4 indicates satisfactory sperm movement
- Morphology – At least 30% of sperm should have a normal shape
- Kruger morphology – At least 14% of sperm should have normally shaped heads
- Liquefaction – The ejaculate coagulates from liquid to gel, then turns back to a liquid state within 20 minutes
An abnormal semen analysis does not necessarily mean that a man is infertile, as the impact of one factor may be offset by another. For example, a lower total sperm count might be fine, as long as the morphology and motility of the sperm are good.
Get tested for male infertility
If your partner’s semen analysis results are abnormal, Drs. Burger and Petrini may recommend additional testing or refer him to a urologist for further evaluation. Keep in mind, abnormal results don’t mean you can’t be parents. Even with severe male infertility, effective treatments are available to help your partner become a dad. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant and think it’s time for a semen analysis, contact our South Austin fertility center to schedule an appointment.