What it measures
The total number of sperm in the whole sample, in millions. It is the concentration multiplied by the volume, so it reflects both.
Why people test it
- Checked by couples who have been trying for a baby for a while.
- Part of a semen analysis, read alongside movement, shape and volume.
- Testosterone on TRT or from a steroid cycle can lower sperm production, so men planning a family have the count checked.
Typical range
Reported in millions per sample. Labs usually compare it with World Health Organization reference values; ranges vary by lab, and the report shows the lab's own.
Finger-prick or vein?
A semen sample rather than blood, produced at home into the pot from the kit and posted to the lab.
Labs ask for a set number of days without ejaculation before the sample, as this affects the result; the kit instructions give the window.