By Dr (Maj.) Harshita Surange

“Doctor, my sperm count is low. Does this mean I can never have a baby?”

It is one of the first questions many men ask after seeing an abnormal semen report. And often, the fear begins before they have even spoken to a doctor.

A number on a laboratory report suddenly feels like a judgement on their masculinity, sexual ability and chances of becoming a father.

But a semen analysis is none of those things.

It is simply a test that helps doctors understand whether sperm-related factors could be contributing to a couple’s difficulty in conceiving.

So, what does the test actually check?

Think of sperm as having three basic jobs: being present in sufficient numbers, moving well and having a suitable shape.

A semen analysis mainly looks at:

• Sperm count – how many sperm are present
• Movement – how well they move
• Shape – whether their structure is within the expected range

The report may also include information about the amount of semen and other findings that can help the doctor understand the bigger picture.

But why me? Isn’t infertility mainly a woman’s problem?

This is another misconception we need to leave behind.

Difficulty conceiving is a couple’s issue. Male factors can contribute on their own or alongside female factors. That is why evaluating both partners is important rather than putting the entire burden of investigation on the woman.

And the semen analysis is often one of the simplest first steps in evaluating the male partner.

What if the report is abnormal?

First: don’t panic.

Sperm numbers and other semen measurements can vary between samples. One abnormal report does not automatically mean infertility.

Your doctor may recommend repeating the test and will interpret the results alongside your medical history, your partner’s evaluation and how long you have been trying to conceive.

More importantly, an abnormal result is a finding—not necessarily a final diagnosis.

Sometimes the underlying issue can be addressed through appropriate treatment, lifestyle changes or treatment of a specific condition. In other situations, fertility treatment may help improve the chances of conception.

And what about the test itself?

The sample is usually collected by masturbation into a laboratory-provided container, following the laboratory’s instructions. It is important to collect the complete sample because losing part of it can affect the result.

It may feel awkward. But medically, there is nothing embarrassing about it.

One report should never become a life sentence

If you’ve just received a low sperm count or an abnormal semen report, don’t Google your way into despair.

Ask one better question: “Why is this happening, and what can we do about it?”

At Pacific OneHealth, the aim is to evaluate both partners, explain the findings in simple language and identify the appropriate next step.

A semen report does not tell you whether you are a man. It gives your doctor information that can help understand your fertility.

(The author is the Principal Consultant, Radiology at Pacific OneHealth Hospitals, New Delhi. She is a specialist in infertility scanning.)