For Him · 2 min
Before your semen analysis, the things nobody tells you
Top things to know
A poorly prepared sample gives a misleading result, so preparation matters as much as the test.
Aim for 2–5 days without ejaculation before the test; too short or too long both skew results.
Use only the sterile container provided; most household lubricants damage sperm and affect results.
One result is a snapshot, not a verdict; an abnormal test is usually repeated after 3 months.
How do you make sure your semen analysis is accurate?
A is one of the most useful fertility tests, but only if it is done properly. A poorly-prepared sample gives a misleading result and can lead to unnecessary repeat testing, unnecessary further investigation of your partner, or false reassurance.
What should you do on the day of your semen analysis?
Most labs ask you to produce the sample on-site in a private room. Some allow home collection if you can deliver it to the lab within about an hour and keep it at body temperature in transit. Ask your clinic which they prefer, protocols vary.
Use only the sterile container provided. Most household or cosmetic lubricants damage sperm and affect results, use only lab-approved fertility-friendly lubricant or none.
What do your semen analysis numbers actually mean?
The WHO 2021 (6th edition) reference lower limits for fertile men: concentration ≥16 million/ml, total motility ≥42%, progressive motility ≥30%, normal morphology ≥4%, volume ≥1.4 ml. Below these does not mean infertility, around 15% of men below reference still conceive naturally. Above them does not guarantee fertility either.
15%
Around 15% of men with results below the WHO reference limits still conceive naturally.
WHO Laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition (2021)
What does a standard semen analysis not measure?
A standard is a good first test, but it has real limits, and knowing them matters. It counts sperm, checks how well they move, and looks at their shape, but it does not look inside the sperm at the integrity of the genetic material they carry. That deeper measure, called , can be high even when count, motility and shape all look normal, and it is linked to unexplained infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and that fails despite good embryos. A normal standard result is reassuring, but it is not the whole story. What further testing is available, and what it costs, depends on where you are.
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Reviewed by clinicians
Authored and reviewed by clinicians from the founding team. Information only, not personalised medical advice.
From the team behind Her Holistic Health, founded by Dr Divpreet Sacha, NHS-trained GP.