Semen Analysis

Male Fertility Test, Sperm Count

What Affects the Test

Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include:

• Medicines, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), male and female hormones (testosterone, estrogen), sulfasalazine, nitrofurantoin, and some chemotherapy medicines.
• Caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, and smoking tobacco.
• Herbal medicines, such as St. John's wort and high doses of echinacea.
• A semen sample that gets cold. The sperm motility value will be inaccurately low if the semen sample gets cold.
• Exposure to radiation, some chemicals (such as certain pesticides or spermicides), and prolonged heat exposure.
• An incomplete semen sample. This is more common if a sample is collected by methods other than masturbation.
• Not ejaculating for several days. This may affect the semen volume.

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: February 20, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.