SemenBoost

Metrics

Sperm health

The semen measurements that describe sperm number, movement and shape, and where to go next if you have a result or want a test.

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Short answer

Sperm health on a semen analysis is a set of measurements, not a single score. The ones that change clinical decisions most often are concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility and morphology. Each has a WHO lower reference limit. None of them is a fertility certificate.

Key takeaways

  • “Count” is used loosely. Concentration and total number are different.
  • Motility splits into total movement and forward movement.
  • Morphology uses strict criteria. 4% normal forms is the lower limit.
  • Lifestyle and supplement pages are secondary to an actual test and clinical history.

The measurements

  • Sperm count — total sperm in the ejaculate. Lower reference limit 39 million.
  • Concentration — sperm per millilitre. Lower reference limit 16 million/ml.
  • Motility — movement. Total motility 42% or more; progressive motility 30% or more.
  • Morphology — normal shape. 4% or more.
  • Vitality — sperm that are alive. 54% or more.
  • Total motile sperm count — a calculation, not a WHO reference limit.

Three places to start

If you already have a report, use results explained or the decoder. If you need a test, start with testing and the UK or US route. If you want to know what evidence says about habits and supplements, start with improving sperm health rather than a product page.

Related

Sources

  1. WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition — World Health Organization, 2021
  2. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NG257) — NICE, 2026
  3. NG257: investigation of fertility problems and management strategies — NICE, 2026
  4. Low sperm count — NHS
How this page was prepared

Drafted with automated research assistance and checked against the cited primary sources. A named clinician has not reviewed this page. Medical review is pending. Changes to reference values are not published automatically.