A thorough evaluation helps determine the cause of an abnormal semen analysis and rules out other medical problems. Tests Included Almost all laboratories will perform and report on the following tests using values established by the World Health Association. Morphology describes the shape of the sperm cells. The sperm are examined under a microscope and must meet specific criteria for several characteristics in order to be considered normal. Thirty percent of the sperm should be normal using these criteria.
Volume is a measurement of the amount of ejaculate.
The volume may be low if a man is anxious when producing a specimen, if all of the specimen is not caught in the collection container, or if there are hormonal abnormalities or duct blockages. Total Motile Count is the number of moving sperm in the entire ejaculate. There should be more than 40 million motile sperm in the ejaculate. Abnormalities in the seminal fluid may adversely affect the success of the sperm. For example, if the semen is very thick it may be difficult for the sperm to move through it and into the woman's reproductive tract.