Semen analysis (partner test)
The single most informative male fertility test. Four measures, one accredited laboratory, and a doctor to explain what the report means for you both.
Semen analysis measures the volume of a sample and the number, movement and shape of the sperm in it. It is the first test doctors use to assess male fertility, and around half of couples who have difficulty conceiving have a male factor involved. It costs $89, with an optional 20-minute doctor consult (+$59). Because the sample must reach the laboratory quickly, you either produce it at a participating centre or produce it at home and deliver it within an hour (options below).
What it measures
- Volume: the amount of semen in millilitres. A low volume can reflect an incomplete collection or a short abstinence period; less often, a blockage or gland issue.
- Concentration: sperm per millilitre, often called sperm count. The laboratory also reports the total number in the whole sample, which is the more meaningful figure.
- Motility: the percentage of sperm that are moving, and how many move forward (progressive motility). Sperm need to swim to reach and fertilise an egg.
- Morphology: the percentage with a normal shape under strict criteria. Even in fertile men most sperm are irregular, so the threshold is low and the figure is read with the others rather than alone.
Who it's for
Male partners of anyone assessing their fertility. Testing together makes sense because a male factor is involved in around half of couples who struggle to conceive, and a semen analysis is quick and inexpensive compared with most tests a woman goes through. It suits couples who have been trying for a while, couples who want a baseline before they start, and men who have had a vasectomy reversal, injury or illness that could affect sperm. It is for adults aged 18 and over. Where the result is abnormal, the male hormone panel is the usual next step.
What you'll learn, and what you won't
You'll get a laboratory report on volume, count, motility and morphology against World Health Organization reference values, explained in plain English. Where you have linked your records, the doctor reads it alongside your partner's AMH and fertility panel so you get one picture of the couple rather than two separate results.
What it cannot do: it does not tell you whether a pregnancy will happen, and results below a reference value do not mean conception is impossible. Many men with a low count or motility father children. A normal result does not rule out every male factor either, since sperm DNA and function are not assessed. A laboratory test, like a blood test, is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own.
Reference ranges and what they mean
Australian laboratories report against World Health Organization (WHO) lower reference limits: the values at or above which about 95 percent of recently fertile men fall, not a pass mark. The figures below are the WHO 6th edition (2021) limits, which Australian laboratories report against. Many laboratories still print the earlier 2010 (5th edition) limits, so your report may quote slightly different figures; it shows which set was used.
| Marker | WHO lower reference limit | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 1.4 mL or more | Below this can reflect short abstinence or incomplete collection; less commonly a structural cause. |
| Sperm concentration | 16 million per mL or more | Below this is a low count (oligozoospermia). No sperm seen (azoospermia) is always repeated and investigated. |
| Total sperm number | 39 million per ejaculate or more | Concentration multiplied by volume; often a better guide than concentration alone. |
| Total motility | 42 percent or more moving | Below this is reduced motility (asthenozoospermia). |
| Progressive motility | 30 percent or more moving forward | Forward movement matters most for reaching the egg. |
| Morphology (strict criteria) | 4 percent or more normal forms | A low figure is common and is read with count and motility. |
Ranges vary by laboratory; your report shows the range your lab uses. Typical ranges on this page are drawn from Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA) and the sources listed below.
One result is not a verdict
Sperm production takes about ten to twelve weeks and results vary a great deal between samples from the same man. A recent fever, a very short or long abstinence period, heat exposure, heavy alcohol use or a spill during collection can all pull one result down. Doctors therefore rarely act on a single abnormal analysis; the usual step is to repeat it after four to twelve weeks before drawing any conclusion. If two results are consistently outside the reference values, your doctor discusses causes and next steps, which may include the male hormone panel or a referral.
When to do this test
Abstain from ejaculation for 2 to 5 days before the sample (the WHO window is 2 to 7 days). Shorter can lower volume and count; longer can lower motility. Book a collection time at a participating centre, where most have a private room, or choose to produce the sample at home in the container we send you. If you collect at home, keep it at room to body temperature and deliver it within one hour, with the exact collection time noted. Use the sterile container provided, collect the whole sample without lubricants, and postpone if you have had a fever in the past few weeks. No fasting; time of day does not matter.
Test together
Pairing this test with your partner's AMH and fertility panel or a preconception check gives a doctor both halves of the picture at once, rather than testing one partner and waiting.
How it works
- Order online. A KnowLuna doctor requests the test at no extra charge, or upload a request your own doctor has signed.
- Produce the sample at a participating centre near you, or at home and drop it to the nominated laboratory within an hour (options below). Follow the abstinence window and the collection instructions we send.
- Results are usually ready within a few business days, explained in plain English in your account, with an optional 20-minute doctor consult.
Choose how you collect
Every option is the same accredited test and the same report. Pick what suits you at checkout; the fee, if any, is added to either pathway price.
Collect at home in the container we send you and deliver it to the nominated laboratory within one hour. Included.
A quick draw at an accredited pathology collection centre near you. Usually under ten minutes. Included.
Common questions
How much does a semen analysis cost in Australia?
Prices vary between laboratories and clinics. KnowLuna's semen analysis is $89 test-only, with an optional 20-minute doctor consult for +$59. It is self-pay, so there is no Medicare rebate; a GP-requested analysis may attract one at some laboratories. See semen analysis cost in Australia.
Do I need a referral for a sperm test?
Not with KnowLuna. A KnowLuna doctor requests the test for you at no extra charge after a short questionnaire, or you can upload a request your own GP has signed. Either way the test is done at the same accredited laboratory and the report comes back in plain English in your account.
What is a normal sperm count?
The WHO 6th edition (2021) lower reference limit is 16 million sperm per millilitre and 39 million in the whole sample. These are the values about 95 percent of recently fertile men reach, not a pass mark: men below them do conceive. Count is always read together with motility and morphology.
How is a semen analysis done?
After 2 to 5 days without ejaculating, you produce a sample by masturbation into a sterile container, either in a private room at the collection centre or at home. If you collect at home, the sample must be kept at room to body temperature and delivered to the nominated laboratory within an hour. The laboratory then measures volume, count, motility and morphology.
How long do semen analysis results take?
Usually a few business days. Your report appears in your account with each measure explained against the WHO reference values, and a doctor is available to talk it through. If any value is outside the range, the doctor will usually suggest a repeat sample after four to twelve weeks before anything is concluded.
Why wait 2 to 5 days before a semen analysis?
Abstinence standardises the sample so results are comparable. Under two days can lower volume and count because the reserve has not rebuilt; more than five to seven days can lower motility as older sperm accumulate. Use the same window for any repeat test so the two can be compared fairly.
Sources and further reading
- World Health Organization: laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th edition (2021)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): semen analysis
- Healthdirect: male infertility
- Better Health Channel: infertility in men
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: sperm health
General information only, not medical advice. A test result is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own, and every abnormal result is followed up by a KnowLuna doctor. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, see a doctor promptly. Read our medical disclaimer.
Related
Tested together.