Semen Analysis Calculator (Total Motile Sperm Count & WHO 2021 Reference)
Enter your semen analysis results to get the total sperm count, total motile sperm count (TMSC) and progressive motile count, and compare each value with the WHO 2021 lower reference limits — with what the TMSC usually means for fertility treatment.
How it works
total sperm count = volume (mL) × concentration (million/mL) · TMSC (progressive) = total count × progressive motility % · total motile = total count × total motility % · WHO 2021 lower limits: volume 1.4 mL, concentration 16 million/mL, total 39 million, total motility 42%, progressive 30%, normal forms 4%
A semen analysis reports volume, concentration, motility and morphology. Multiplying them out gives the total motile sperm count (TMSC), which predicts fertility and treatment success better than any single value: above about 20 million is considered normal, 5–20 million often still allows insemination (IUI), and lower counts usually point to IVF or ICSI. The WHO 2021 manual gives lower reference limits — the 5th percentile of men whose partners conceived within a year — so a value below them is unusual but not proof of infertility. Results vary a lot between samples; doctors repeat an abnormal test after 2–3 months.
Worked example
A sample of 3.0 mL at 40 million/mL contains 120.0 million sperm. With 45% progressive motility the TMSC is 120 × 0.45 = 54.0 million — above 20 million, the normal range — and all six values meet the WHO 2021 limits (0 of 6 below).
Sources: WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, 6th ed. (2021) · Hamilton JA, et al. Total motile sperm count: a better indicator for the severity of male factor infertility. Hum Reprod 2015
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal total motile sperm count?
Above 20 million progressively motile sperm per ejaculate is generally considered normal. 5–20 million is mildly reduced (IUI is often an option), 1–5 million reduced, and below 1 million severely reduced (IVF with ICSI).
What are the WHO 2021 normal values for semen analysis?
Lower reference limits: volume 1.4 mL, concentration 16 million/mL, total count 39 million, total motility 42%, progressive motility 30%, vitality 54% and normal forms 4%.
Is 4% morphology bad?
No — 4% normal forms is the WHO lower reference limit under strict criteria, and many fertile men have 4–10%. Morphology alone is a weak predictor; TMSC matters more.
Should I repeat a semen analysis?
Yes, if it is abnormal. Counts vary with illness, fever, abstinence time and lab handling. Repeat after 2–7 days of abstinence, ideally 2–3 months later (one sperm production cycle).
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Educational information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Discuss your results and any decision with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.