Male fertility education
A semen report might say 60% total motility. It is easy to read that as “60% are swimming forward.” But movement and forward progress are different measurements. Understanding that distinction makes the report easier to discuss, without asking one number to answer every question about fertility.
Evidence checked October 7, 2026. About 5 minutes to read.
What sperm motility measures
Motility describes sperm movement. A laboratory distinguishes these patterns:1
| On the report | What it describes |
|---|---|
| Progressive (PR) | Forward travel, whether rapid or slow. The path may be straight or follow a wide circle. |
| Nonprogressive (NP) | Movement with little or no forward progress, such as a tight circle or tail movement with little head movement. |
| Immotile | No active movement. |
The WHO manual separates rapid and slow progressive movement. We group them together here, as the carousel does. Total motility includes both progressive and nonprogressive sperm.1
Immotile does not automatically mean dead. Vitality, which assesses whether sperm are alive, is a separate measurement.1
How 60% moving can include 40% moving forward
Imagine a sample with the following percentages. This is a teaching example, not a patient result or a target.
40% + 20% = 60% total motility
All three percentages refer to the same set of sperm assessed. Of every 100 in this example, 60 move, but only 40 move progressively. The 20 with nonprogressive movement still count toward total motility.
A 60% motility result is not a 60% chance of pregnancy. It describes movement in the sample. It does not calculate a couple’s probability of conceiving.2
Reference limits are not a fertility pass/fail test
The WHO 2021 lower reference values are 42% for total motility and 30% for progressive motility. These are lower fifth-percentile values from a reference population whose partners conceived naturally within 12 months. About 5% of men in that reference group had lower values. These figures are not recommended goals or diagnostic dividing lines.4
Being above a reference limit does not guarantee pregnancy. Being below it does not, by itself, prove infertility. The report needs interpretation alongside the other semen measurements and both partners’ reproductive information.4
That is why our illustrative 40% progressive result should not become a personal target. Use the laboratory’s report and your clinician’s interpretation to understand your own results.
What research can tell us
A 2021 study in Human Reproduction linked first semen analyses from 6,061 men evaluated for subfertility to conception outcomes over up to five years. It was an observational cohort, not a trial of a treatment or supplement.3
A closer look at the findings and their limits
Researchers compared total progressive motile counts (TPMC) ≥50 million versus <50 million. TPMC combines volume, concentration and progressive movement into a count, not a percentage.
The higher-count group had an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.45 (95% CI 1.34–1.58) for conception, with median times of 19 versus 36 months. A hazard ratio describes a relative event rate over time, not a 45-percentage-point increase in pregnancy probability.
Birth records missed pregnancies ending before birth. The model did not adjust for female age. Other partner and treatment information was incomplete, and the analysis used one initial sample. This association neither proves a treatment benefit nor establishes a universal target. No funding or competing interests were declared.3
What to do with an unexpected result
Semen measurements can vary between samples. Your clinician may recommend repeating the analysis, particularly after an abnormal finding. An unexpected result deserves follow-up; repeated testing on your own should not become a reason to postpone evaluation.2
During an infertility evaluation, both partners should be assessed in parallel. A clinician reviews the reproductive history, semen analysis and other findings together, and may recommend a male reproductive specialist when appropriate.2
Before collecting a sample, follow the exact instructions for abstinence, collection materials, timing and transport. Tell the lab if part of the sample was missed or something did not go as instructed.5
Where home testing fits
Home sperm tests vary in what they measure. Some report concentration or movement, while a full laboratory semen analysis provides more information. Check the specific test’s instructions and measurements before comparing its result with a laboratory report.5
A home result can support a conversation about next steps. It does not replace the broader clinical assessment when a couple is having difficulty conceiving.2
A useful question for your next appointment
“What does progressive motility mean alongside the rest of our evaluation?”
You can also ask which measurements were included, whether a repeat sample would be useful, and what the next step should be. Bring the complete report so the discussion can go beyond a single percentage.
This article provides general education, not an individual diagnosis or treatment plan. WrenLife is a supplement brand; this article does not claim that a WrenLife product improves motility or pregnancy outcomes.
Scientific references
- WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. World Health Organization. 6th edition. 2021. Sections 2.4.6–2.4.7. Laboratory methods and definitions.
- Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline. American Urological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine. 2020; amended 2024. Statements 1–3 and discussion; Table 4. Professional guideline.
- Semen parameter thresholds and time-to-conception in subfertile couples: how high is high enough?. Keihani S, Verrilli LE, Zhang C, et al. Human Reproduction. 2021;36(8):2121–2133. doi:10.1093/humrep/deab133. Observational cohort.
- EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health: Male Infertility. European Association of Urology. Section 11.3.2, reference ranges and Table 11.2. Current online guideline, accessed October 7, 2026.
- Semen Analysis. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Patient guidance on collection and home testing, accessed October 7, 2026. Used here for practical testing information, not numerical reference limits.
