How many specimens are needed?
Considerable variation in semen quality can occur from day to day or week to week. For this reason, it’s usually best to do semen analyses on two separate specimens – at least one week apart.
How should the specimen be collected?
Semen specimens should be obtained by masturbation, and collecting the specimen properly is very important. First, you should abstain from ejaculation for at least three days before each specimen. Second, be sure to use a sterile collection container – your doctor’s office or the lab should provide this for you. Finally, it’s best to produce the specimen at the lab so it can be tested immediately. If you must produce the specimen at home, be sure to get it to the lab within 30 minutes, and protect it from extreme heat or cold.
What do they test for?
The three most important measurements taken are the sperm count, motility and morphology. The count simply means the number of sperm present. The motility means determining the percentage of the sperm that are actively moving. The morphology is reported as the percentage of the sperm that are shaped normally. Individual labs can have slightly different standards for “normal” for each of these measurements.
What if the results are abnormal?
If the semen analyses are abnormal, the man should be evaluated by a physician, usually an urologist, who specializes in male infertility. This evaluation should start with a comprehensive history and physical examination, and then may go on to include blood work, ultrasound testing, genetic testing or specialized tests on the semen.
What if the results are normal?
A normal result on two semen analyses usually means that the man’s fertility is normal. However, there are certain situations (see “Oxidative Stress” section) in which a man’s fertility may be low despite a normal semen analysis.
