Semen analysis

This is the first test carried out to check the state of your sperm.

• Giving the sample – most clinics have a lockable room containing erotic material where you can produce the sample. If you feel nervous about the prospect take heart, as most men feel the same way and find the whole business highly stressful. If you think it would help, ask if your partner can come along.
  Alternatively, ask about giving the sample at home. This is normally not a problem but you must get the sample to the clinic within the hour and ensure that the sample is kept at body temperature on the journey. Don't chill or overheat it. The best way is to put it in a shirt or trouser pocket.
• A normal sample is currently defined as around 2–5 ml semen volume, a minimum of 20 million sperm per ml, with at least 40% of sperm moving. Less than 30% should be abnormally shaped.
• Sperm quality can vary for all sorts of reasons, so a definitive assessment should never be made on the basis of just one sample. Repeat tests over several months are required to obtain an accurate picture. Sperm function tests will be carried out to get more detailed information about sperm.