A calculation of the number of sperm in a quantity of semen.
Estimate of the number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate, used as an indication of male fertility. An ejaculate normally contains between 300,000,000 and 500,000,000 spermatozoa; significantly lower numbers usually indicate sterility.
A laboratory test to determine the number of sperm cells in a sample of semen (the thick, white fluid expelled from the penis at sexual climax). A sperm count varies from 20 to 250 million sperm cells per milliliter of semen. A sperm count is performed as part of semen analysis, a series of related tests to determine the fertility of a man. It is also used after surgical sterilization (vasectomy). If the semen contains no sperm cells, the operation was successful.
An estimate of the concentration of spermatozoa in ejaculated semen, which is used as a measure of male fertility. Between 300 million and 500 million spermatozoa in the total ejaculate is normal; less than 60 million is usually accompanied by sterility.