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Macroscopic semen analysis
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
Sperm count
Normally, healthy sexually mature men secrete 2-6 ml of ejaculate. Polyspermia is an increase in the volume of sperm (seminal fluid) to more than 6 ml. Polyspermia is taken into account only in combination with the number of spermatozoa in 1 ml of ejaculate. Oligospermia is the secretion of less than 2 ml of semen. A decrease in the volume of ejaculate to less than 1 ml is always regarded as pathology: such ejaculate often does not contain spermatozoa and is possible with testicular atrophy. Less often, a small volume of ejaculate in combination with the absence of spermatozoa and spermatogenesis cells (aspermia) is observed with obliteration of both ejaculatory ducts. Aspermia with obliteration of the vas deferens is not accompanied by a decrease in the volume of ejaculate. The increase and decrease in the volume of ejaculate is caused by changes in the secretion of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles and is closely associated with diseases of these organs (or their age-related changes.
[ Color of sperm
The color of normal sperm (seminal fluid) is grayish-white or milky. The admixture of leukocytes gives the ejaculate a yellowish tint, erythrocytes - pink or red. The brown color of the ejaculate is due to the admixture of altered blood.
The smell of sperm
The specific smell of sperm (semen) - the smell of "fresh chestnuts" - is due to the presence of a normal number of spermatozoa in the sperm. If the number of spermatozoa decreases sharply, the smell of sperm becomes weak, and in their complete absence, it may not be detectable at all.
Semen consistency
Normally, immediately after ejaculation, sperm has a thick, viscous consistency, caused by the coagulation of the secretion of the seminal vesicles. Under the influence of prostate enzymes, 10-30 minutes after receiving the sperm, complete liquefaction of the ejaculate occurs. If the ejaculate remains viscous, semi-viscous or does not liquefy at all for a long time, one should think about inflammation of the prostate gland or seminal vesicles. The viscous consistency of sperm hinders the movement of spermatozoa, which either cannot move at all or quickly lose mobility.
Sperm pH
In normal ejaculate, the pH fluctuates between 7.2 and 8. A constant pH of the environment ensures high sperm motility. In case of inflammation of the prostate gland, the pH becomes sharply basic (pH 9-10). In case of disease of the seminal vesicles or vas deferens, the reaction of the ejaculate shifts to the acidic side (pH 6-6.5), due to the absence of secretion of the accessory sex glands in it. If the pH of the seminal fluid becomes less than 6, the sperm lose motility and necrospermia can be diagnosed.