If you’ve had a semen analysis, sperm count is probably one of the first numbers you’ll look for. You might be concerned if your value is below the reference range, but these values are not cut-offs that separate fertile from infertile men. A result below the reference range doesn’t mean you can’t conceive, just as a result within it doesn’t guarantee that you can. Here’s what you need to know about a normal sperm count and what it means.
What is a normal sperm count?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) publishes reference values for semen analysis results that include:
These values are the fifth percentiles of semen analysis data from around 3,500 men with proven fertility. ‘Fifth percentile’ means that 5% of this group of men had results that were at or below these values. These values are considered to be at the lower end of the normal range.
What does a low sperm count mean?
A low sperm count means that the total number of individual sperm cells in your ejaculate is below the normal range. A low sperm concentration means that the number of sperm per millilitre of ejaculate is below the normal range.
During a semen analysis, laboratory technicians don’t count every sperm in the sample. Instead, they count at least 200 sperm and record the volume of semen those sperm were in. Then they take another subsample of semen of the same volume and count the number of sperm in that. These counts are used to calculate sperm concentration and then this is multiplied by the total ejaculate volume to get total sperm count.
Low sperm counts are subdivided into:
These categories help doctors decide which tests you need next. For example, if you’re below 1 million/ml, genetic testing is recommended.
Does a higher sperm count mean you’re more fertile?
Not necessarily.
Sperm count is one part of male fertility, but sperm also need to be able to move effectively and have other characteristics that support fertilisation.
A semen analysis usually assesses several things, including:
These results need to be considered together rather than treating sperm count as a standalone fertility score.
What if your results are abnormal?
Firstly, one abnormal result is not a diagnosis. If your results show a low sperm count (or anything else off) you’ll need to do another semen analysis six weeks later before drawing any conclusions. Sperm take about 72 days to produce. That means a hot bath or period of illness within the last three months could be showing up in your results today.
What does a low sperm count mean?
Results still abnormal? A sperm concentration below the WHO reference value doesn’t automatically mean you’re infertile. The reference values describe the lower end of results seen in men whose partners conceived naturally. They don’t identify a point where natural conception becomes impossible.
Your semen analysis is one piece of information that can help a doctor assess your fertility alongside your health, medical history and, where relevant, your partner’s fertility.
Can your sperm count change?
Yes. Semen analysis results can vary between samples. This means any result needs to be interpreted alongside other information. If your results are abnormal, you’ll always provide a second sample six weeks later. Many things can affect your sperm health, which not only impacts your ability to start a family but also influences the health of your baby at birth and later in life. Your diet, your exercise habits, whether you smoke and how much you drink are just a few of the factors that affect your sperm quality. You can learn more about male preconception health and improve your sperm health here.
What should you do if your sperm count is low?
If your semen analysis shows a sperm count outside the reference range, your GP or fertility specialist will talk about what the result means for you. They can look at the whole semen analysis rather than sperm count alone and consider whether further assessment is appropriate.
If you’re trying for a baby and concerned about your fertility, you don’t need to work out yourself what all the numbers mean. Taking your semen analysis results to your GP is a useful place to start.
People also ask
Does a normal sperm count mean you’re fertile?
No single sperm count can tell you that. A result within the WHO reference range can be useful information, but it doesn’t guarantee fertility. Likewise, having a sperm count below the reference range doesn’t mean natural conception can’t happen. Male fertility depends on more than the number of sperm in your semen, which is why semen analysis results are interpreted in the context of other factors.
