Key takeaways

  • A typical sperm count is around 40 million or more sperm per milliliter (mL), though fertility depends on multiple factors beyond just the number of sperm present.
  • Lifestyle modifications such as maintaining a moderate weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco may help improve sperm count. Medical treatments can address any underlying issues, such as blockages or hormonal imbalances.
  • Counts below 15 million sperm per mL are considered low, but pregnancy remains possible even with reduced numbers if sperm quality characteristics like shape and movement are strong.

A healthcare professional may recommend a semen analysis for many reasons, such as to test for possible underlying causes of infertility, how well the reproductive organs are working, or whether a surgical procedure for sterility was successful.

A typical sperm count is around 40 million sperm per mL or above. Medical and lifestyle factors may affect this.

Read on to learn more about typical sperm counts, what high or low sperm counts mean, and other aspects of fertility that healthcare professionals test for during a semen analysis.

The typical sperm count is usually at least 40 million sperm per mL. In some cases, the sperm count could be upwards of 200 million sperm per mL.

To test a person’s sperm count, a healthcare professional will ask the person to ejaculate into a specimen cup. They will send this specimen to a laboratory, where technicians will evaluate the sample for the estimated sperm count and other factors. The results may vary depending on the laboratory.

Even people with a typical sperm count may experience infertility, as other factors can influence how effectively sperm can fertilize an egg.

A low sperm count is anything under 15 million sperm per mL.

Although a low sperm count can negatively impact a person’s fertility, it does not mean that pregnancy is not possible. Even a single sperm injected directly into an egg can fertilize it.

If a person has a low sperm count, a healthcare professional may order other tests to determine the quality of the sperm.

If the sperm count is low but the sperm is of high quality, with a good shape, size, and swimming speed, a healthcare professional may consider this adequate for fertility.

Sperm counts can reach 200 million sperm per mL or more.

It is possible to have a high sperm count but low sperm motility, which means that the sperm do not move as efficiently.

Semen analysis is a laboratory test that measures several factors in addition to a person’s sperm count. These include:

  • Liquefaction: This is the ability of semen to change from a gel to a liquid state. If the sperm does not liquefy in up to 60 minutes, the sperm may not be able to adequately travel to fertilize an egg.
  • Morphology: The size and shape of the sperm can affect fertility. While all semen samples contain abnormally shaped sperm, the more defects that are present, the higher the likelihood of infertility.
  • Motility and velocity: These are measurements of how well sperm can swim to fertilize an egg and how fast the sperm travel.
  • pH: This is a measurement of how acidic or basic the semen is. The average pH of semen is 7.2 to 7.8. A higher pH could indicate an infection. A lower pH could indicate that the sample is contaminated, or that there is an obstruction in the reproductive system.
  • Total semen volume: This is the amount of semen a person ejaculates. People typically ejaculate 1.5 to 5 mL of semen. If there is less than this in the sample, a healthcare professional may look for prostate gland or seminal vesicle problems. If the amount is excessive, the sperm concentration may be too diluted.

Some laboratories may conduct further testing, depending on the technology available.

Anyone concerned about their sperm count can talk with a healthcare professional about lifestyle changes that may help.

Some of these recommendations may include:

  • avoiding alcohol or reducing intake
  • quitting or avoiding smoking
  • maintaining a moderate weight
  • getting enough regular exercise or physical activity
  • avoiding overheating the testicles

Some treatments may depend on the underlying cause of a low sperm count. For example, if a person has a blockage in the seminal vesicles, a healthcare professional may recommend surgery to remove or correct the obstruction.

Healthcare professionals may also prescribe medications, such as gonadotropin therapies, which are hormones that can boost fertility.

Laboratories can measure sperm count as part of a semen analysis. A typical sperm count is 40 million sperm per milliliter (mL) or higher.

Sperm count is only one aspect of fertility. Healthcare professionals can also evaluate additional factors, such as sperm shape and motility, to determine the male partner’s influence on the likelihood of pregnancy.

A person can talk with a healthcare professional about a variety of lifestyle changes and medical treatment options to improve fertility based on individual circumstances.