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Intel Lab Diagnostics Dubai
Single Biomarker

Semen Analysis

Sperm Count, Motility & Morphology

Semen analysis evaluates sperm count, motility, morphology, and volume. It is the primary test for male fertility assessment. A 2–7 day period of sexual abstinence before collection is required.

SEMEN24 HOURSNO FASTING
AEDAED75
  • Lab visit: sample produced on-site
  • Physician-reviewed report

24 hours

Turnaround

Semen

Sample

About This Test

What the Semen Analysis test tells you

A semen analysis is a descriptive examination rather than a single number on a scale. The laboratory looks at the sample from several angles at once: how much fluid there is, how long it takes to liquefy, how many sperm it contains, what proportion are moving and how purposefully they move, what shape they are, and whether white cells or clumping are present. Each of these is reported separately, and it is the overall picture across them (not any one line) that a doctor reads. Because of this, the test has no meaningful high or low direction; a result is described, not scored.

It is the starting point for investigating male fertility, and it is worth saying plainly that the result is a description of one sample on one day, not a judgement of a person. Sperm take roughly three months to be produced and mature, so a fever, a viral illness, a course of medication, a period of poor sleep or significant stress in the preceding weeks can all show up in a sample taken today. Normal variation between samples from the same man is genuinely wide, wider than most people expect. This is precisely why an abnormal first result is usually repeated after some weeks before any conclusion is drawn, and why a single unexpected report should not be read as a final answer.

When a result does point to a problem, the examination narrows where to look next rather than explaining the cause. Few or absent sperm with normal hormone results suggests a blockage in the tubes that carry them; the same finding with a raised FSH points instead to the testes not producing sperm well. White cells raise the question of infection or inflammation, and clumping raises the question of antibodies against sperm. The analysis is also the standard way to confirm that a vasectomy has worked. In every case it is read alongside examination, hormone tests and history rather than in isolation.

Sample type
Semen
Turnaround
24 hours
Fasting
Not required
Best for
Adults planning a family
What's measured

21 results from one sample

Your report lists each value below, grouped here in the order the laboratory examines the sample: the fluid itself, then how the sperm move, how many there are, their shape and any other cells present. Reference ranges follow the WHO laboratory manual, 6th edition.

21results on one report
  • Sample: Semen
  • No fasting needed
  • Results within 24 hours

The sample

5 results

How much fluid there is, how quickly it liquefies, and its colour, thickness and pH.

  • Volume
  • Liquefaction time
  • Colour
  • Viscosity
  • pH

Sperm

8 results

How the sperm move, how many there are per millilitre and in the whole sample, and what share have a normal shape.

Movement
  • Progressive motility
  • Non-progressive motility
  • Immotile sperm
  • Total motile sperm count
Count
  • Sperm concentration
  • Total sperm count
Shape
  • Normal forms
  • Abnormal forms

Other cells and findings

8 results

Clumping of sperm, red and white cells, and other material seen under the microscope.

  • Agglutination
  • Red blood cells
  • White blood cells (leukocytes)
  • Epithelial cells
  • Round cells
  • Crystals
  • Amorphous debris
  • Bacteria

The report also records how many days you abstained and when the sample was collected and examined, because both affect the result.

Names match your lab report, where each result appears beside its reference range or is marked Detected or Not detected.

Why Get Tested?

Primary investigation for couples experiencing infertility. Also used to confirm successful vasectomy (azoospermia) and to evaluate male reproductive health.

  • First step in male fertility

    It is the standard initial investigation when a couple has been trying to conceive without success, and often the single most informative test on the male side.

  • Describing several parameters

    Volume, sperm number, movement and shape are reported separately, so the pattern across them shows where any difficulty lies.

  • Directing further tests

    The findings determine what follows (hormone tests, a scrotal ultrasound, or an assessment for a blockage) rather than answering the question alone.

  • Confirming a vasectomy worked

    After a vasectomy, semen analysis is the accepted way to confirm that no sperm remain before other contraception is stopped.

When This Test Is Ordered

Reasons your doctor may request the Semen Analysis test

Your doctor may order this test for any of the reasons below. Some are routine checks, others follow specific symptoms or an earlier result.

  • Trying to conceive & fertility treatment

    • A couple who have been trying to conceive for some time without success.
    • Assessment before starting fertility treatment such as insemination or IVF.

  • Testicular problems

    • Follow-up of a varicocele, an undescended testis, or a testicular injury or infection.

  • After vasectomy, cancer treatment & repeat testing

    • Confirmation that a vasectomy has been effective, at the interval your surgeon specifies.
    • Assessment before or after treatment that may affect fertility, including chemotherapy.
    • Repeat testing to check a previous abnormal or unexpected result.
Preparation
The short version
A little prep.
  • Semen
  • Lab visit only
  • No fasting
  • Results in 24 hours
  1. 1
    Book any time

    No fasting window: pick any slot that suits you, online or on WhatsApp.

  2. 2
    Come to the lab

    This sample is produced at our Dubai laboratory in a private collection room and goes straight into incubation: no home collection.

  3. 3
    Results in 24 hours

    A physician-reviewed, easy-to-read report lands securely by WhatsApp and email.

Prep note
Physician reviewed

Abstain from ejaculation for two to seven days before your appointment: a shorter gap lowers the count and a longer one reduces movement, so keep to the window your doctor specifies.

The sample is produced at our laboratory in a private collection room and goes straight into incubation, so this test is a lab visit only: no home collection. Pass urine and wash and dry your hands and genitals before collecting; produce the semen sample directly into the sterile container provided, without lubricant, saliva or an ordinary condom, and collect the whole of it: tell the laboratory if any was spilled.

Mention any fever, illness, antibiotic or other medication in the previous weeks, since these can affect the sample.

Collecting Your Sample

How to give your sample

Follow these steps so your Semen Analysis result reflects the sample as it was, not how it was collected.

  1. 1

    Abstain from ejaculation for 2 to 7 days before your appointment (no shorter, no longer) and note the number of days for the lab.

  2. 2

    Tell us about any fever, illness, antibiotics or other medication in the past three months; these can affect the sample.

  3. 3

    Pass urine, then wash your hands and genitals with soap, rinse well and dry with a fresh towel before collecting.

  4. 4

    Collect the semen sample directly into the sterile wide-mouth container we provide. Do not use lubricant, saliva or an ordinary condom, and do not collect by withdrawal.

  5. 5

    Collect the entire ejaculate: the first portion holds most of the sperm. Tell the lab straight away if any was spilled or missed; a partial sample cannot be reported as complete.

  6. 6

    Label the container with your name, the date and time of collection and the abstinence period, then hand it to our staff immediately so it is kept at body temperature and examined within the hour.

Based on the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, 6th edition (2021)

Read the WHO sample collection guide
Understanding Your Results

Your report carries one band labelled Multi-parameter panel, with no unit, because a semen analysis is described rather than scored. Volume, the time the sample takes to liquefy, sperm number, the proportion moving and how purposefully, shape, and any white cells or clumping each have their own reference figures. Your doctor reads the pattern across them rather than any single line, so there is no meaningful high or low direction. One sample describes one day. Sperm take around three months to be produced, so a fever, a viral illness, medication, poor sleep or stress in the preceding weeks can show in today's result, and normal variation between samples is wide. The abstinence period and how completely the sample was collected matter too. An unexpected result is usually repeated after some weeks, and your doctor reads it alongside examination, hormone tests and your history.

Medically reviewed by Dr Nirupama Sabhapathy

SmartReport

This test is reported descriptively rather than on a numeric scale: each finding below explains what your report may say.

Multi-parameter panel

This reports several parameters (volume, count, motility, morphology and more), each with its own reference range. See your detailed report.

Ranges are a guide: your physician interprets your result alongside your symptoms and history.

Limitations & Safety

What this test cannot tell you

  • Results vary widely between samples from the same person, so one abnormal result is usually repeated after some weeks before any conclusion is drawn.
  • Sperm take roughly three months to be produced, so a fever, illness, medication or period of severe stress in the preceding weeks can affect a sample taken now.
  • Collection matters: an incomplete sample, a lost first portion, a lubricant or an ordinary condom can all make the result look worse than it is.
  • A normal analysis does not guarantee fertility, and an abnormal one does not mean conception is impossible: it describes the sample, not the outcome.

Collecting your sample safely

  • No needle is involved: you produce the sample yourself into a sterile container, so there is no physical risk.
  • You collect in a private room at our lab, and your sample and result are handled confidentially.
  • Pass urine and wash your hands and genitals first, so the sample is not contaminated.
Key Points
  • 1This is a descriptive examination of several features at once, not a single value that can be high or low.
  • 2You will be asked to abstain from ejaculation for a short period beforehand (usually between two and seven days) because both a shorter and a longer gap alter the result.
  • 3The sample is produced at the laboratory itself and incubated straight away, because movement of the sperm falls off as it cools or ages, so this test is a lab visit, not a home collection.
  • 4One abnormal result is not a diagnosis; repeating it after some weeks is normal practice rather than a sign that something is wrong.
  • 5It is interpreted together with examination findings and hormone tests such as FSH, LH and testosterone.
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about the Semen Analysis test. Can't find what you're looking for?

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No. Semen quality varies a great deal between samples from the same person, and an illness or stressful period in the previous weeks can lower it temporarily. This is why an abnormal result is normally repeated after some weeks. Many men with an unexpected first result have a reassuring second one, and conception is possible across a wide range of findings.