Will sperm testing tell me if I can have kids?

Your semen analysis report won’t come back marked “fertile” or “infertile.” Infertility is what doctors call a “functional diagnosis.” You’re not considered infertile unless you’ve actually tried, and been unable to, conceive a child.

A semen analysis will tell you your fertility health parameters:

• Semen volume — how much semen you produce
• Sperm count and concentration — how many sperm you have per mL of semen
• Motility — how well your sperm are moving or “swimming”
• Morphology — how many of your sperm are the proper shape, size, and structure

These numbers correlate with fertility outcomes. Higher total motile sperm count — the number of moving sperm in your sample — and better sperm quality is associated with improved chance of pregnancy and lower miscarriage rates. However, they’re just one piece of the reproduction puzzle.

An abnormal result doesn’t mean you won’t be able to have a child. Semen parameters can change in reflection of your lifestyle and overall health.

Learn more in our guide to sperm testing.