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Semen analysis interpreter calculator

Is my semen report normal?

Your semen analysis against WHO 2021 reference limits, parameter by parameter.

Volume

WHO lower limit 1.4

Concentration

million/mL

WHO lower limit 16

Total motility

WHO lower limit 42

Progressive motility

WHO lower limit 30

Normal forms

WHO lower limit 4

These are example numbers. Replace them with yours, then press Calculate.

Example answer

0below reference

all within limits

Every parameter sits at or above the WHO 2021 lower reference limit. This describes the sample, not the ability of sperm to fertilise an egg, and does not by itself rule out a male factor.

This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Share the result with your doctor.

Your result on the scale

The ranges this calculator uses. Yours is highlighted.

Your numbers

Everything worked out from what you entered.

Volume: 3.0 mL — within
Concentration: 40.0 M/mL — within
Total sperm number: 120.0 M — within
Total motility: 55.0 % — within
Progressive motility: 40.0 % — within
Normal forms: 6.0 % — within

What each result means

Your result is highlighted. Your own clinic's advice always comes first.

Your resultall within limits

Every parameter sits at or above the WHO 2021 lower reference limit. This describes the sample, not the ability of sperm to fertilise an egg, and does not by itself rule out a male factor.

Your resultone below

A single parameter below its limit is common and often not repeated on a second sample. Confirm with a repeat test using the same 2 to 7 day abstinence period before drawing conclusions.

Your resulttwo to three below

Worth a confirmatory second sample and a urology or andrology review. Check first whether collection was complete and abstinence was inside 2 to 7 days, as both distort results.

Your resultfour or more below

Several parameters below reference. This warrants specialist assessment: examination for varicocele, hormone testing, and in severe cases genetic testing. Many causes are treatable.

Where this fits in your journey

The usual order, from trying to conceive to pregnancy. Not everyone needs every stage. This calculator belongs to stage 2.

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This calculator: Is my semen report normal?

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How this is worked out

Compared to published rangesYour values checked against published reference limits. The source is named below; laboratory methods vary.

Each value is compared against the WHO 2021 lower reference limit. Those limits are the 5th centile of men whose partners conceived within a year, so five per cent of men with proven fertility fall below each one. A result under a limit is not a diagnosis.

About this calculator

?What it tells you

Each number checked against WHO limits. Your semen analysis against WHO 2021 reference limits, parameter by parameter.

✓When to use it

Holding a semen analysis report you have not had explained

iWhat you need

Volume (mL)
Concentration (million/mL)
Total motility (%)
Progressive motility (%)
Normal forms (%)

!What it cannot tell you

Reference limits describe the sample, not the ability of sperm to fertilise an egg. A single result is rarely conclusive.

Common questions

Does one low result mean there is a problem?

Not on its own. Semen parameters vary considerably in the same man between samples, which is why a confirmatory second test is standard. Incomplete collection or abstinence outside 2 to 7 days can also produce a falsely low result.

Which parameter matters most?

Total motile count, combining volume, concentration and motility, predicts treatment options better than any single figure. Morphology alone is the weakest predictor and is often over-interpreted.

My result is just under a limit. What does that mean?

Very little on its own. The limits are the 5th centile of men whose partners conceived naturally within a year, so some men with proven fertility sit below them. Results are read alongside your history and your partner assessment.

Sources

Reference limits from the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, sixth edition (2021): volume 1.4 mL, concentration 16 million/mL, total number 39 million, total motility 42%, progressive motility 30%, normal forms 4%. These are 5th-centile values, not thresholds separating fertile from infertile men.

WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition (2021)

In an emergency

If you have any of the warning signs listed here, don't wait for a test result or a calculator. Get help now.

112All emergencies, anywhere in India 108Ambulance

Also call your IVF clinic. Most clinics give an emergency number on your treatment or discharge sheet. Save it in your phone now, before you need it.