What is Normal for Sperm Motility?

Motility is the sperm's ability to swim to reach and penetrate an unfertilized egg.

Motility is further split into 4 parts:

A: rapid progressive (fast in a straight line)

B: slow progressive (slow in a straight line)

C: non-progressive (swimming in a circle)

D: immotile (movement in tail, but sperm is not moving)

Total motility will include both progressive and non progressive motility (A, B, +C). This number is not as important as progressive motility.

Progressive motility is the ability to swim in a straight line; this is what we want. This is A + B. And, to take it even further—the rapid progressive (A) sperm are the most important ones to look at in regards to fertility and conception.

Now, let’s look at the numbers.

Always make sure the lab you are testing with shows all the different types of motility. Some labs will only show total motility, without breaking it down into further categories. This really does not give us much information in regards to fertility, because a majority of the sperm could still be slow or non-progressive (which could be the reason for lack of conception). This is valuable information that could be missed.

Unfortunately, in regards to the “normal” motility values, there is not one set of criteria in regards to healthy fertility levels. However, most labs and fertility clinics will use either the WHO semen analysis 4th edition criteria or 5th edition criteria. The 4th edition looks at only type A in regards to progressive motility, while the 5th edition looks at both type A +B.

Normal ranges according to the WHO 4th edition (1999):

Total Motility: ≥50%

Rapid Progressive Motility (A): ≥25%

Normal ranges according to the WHO 5th edition (2010):

Total Motility: ≥40%

Progressive Motility (A+B): ≥32%

Although the normal range is to have at least 40-50% total motility, it is worth noting that for breeding purposes, stallions require greater than 60% and dogs require greater than 70% progressively motile sperm.