Sperm Motility, Post-Wash, Semen (Qualitative)

What This Test Measures

Semen contains sperm plus fluid made by the reproductive glands. "Motility" refers to the ability of sperm to swim or move forward. This test focuses on the sperm that remain after a washing procedure and reports whether motile (moving) sperm are present. Washing removes much of the seminal fluid and can concentrate sperm, which matters for certain fertility treatments.

Why a Washing Step Is Used

Laboratory washing is commonly performed to prepare a sperm sample for procedures such as intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. Removing seminal fluid can reduce substances that may interfere with fertilization and allows the lab to select a cleaner, more concentrated group of sperm. Testing motility after this step shows how the processed sample behaves.

How the Sample Is Collected

A semen sample is usually collected at the clinic or laboratory by masturbation into a sterile container, following instructions about abstinence time beforehand. The laboratory then performs the wash and examines the processed sample. Your care team will give you specific collection instructions to follow.

Understanding a Qualitative Result

Because this is a qualitative test, results are typically described in categories such as motile sperm present or not detected rather than as a precise number. Your clinician interprets this together with other semen analysis results, such as sperm count and shape, and with your overall fertility evaluation. A single result does not tell the whole story.