Danish men had the lowest sperm concentrations whilst Finnish men had the highest [14]. Such geographical differences in semen characteristics as presented by these studies remain unexplained.
Semen analysis was standardized, inter-laboratory differences in assessment of sperm concentration were evaluated, and morphology assessment centralized. Lowest sperm concentrations and total counts were detected for Danish men, followed by French and Scottish men. Finnish men had the highest sperm counts.
Higher fertility rates have been recorded in men from Finland than in Britain and Denmark (Jensen et al., 2000; Joffe, 1996). Swedish men have also showed higher semen volume and sperm concentration than Danish men (Richthoff et al., 2002).
The decline is particularly prevalent in Western countries such as New Zealand and Australia, Europe and North America. A 2022 meta-analysis reported that this decline extends to non-Western countries, namely those in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America.
Results: White men produced greater volumes of semen on average, however, Asian men had higher sperm concentrations and total sperm count.
Likewise, significant differences in total sperm count were reported amongst semen samples from four European countries (Finland, Denmark, France, and Scotland). Danish men had the lowest sperm concentrations whilst Finnish men had the highest [14].
Some studies suggest that moderate ejaculation (2–4 times per week) is associated with a lower prostate cancer risk. However, ejaculating more often doesn't mean your cancer risk drops even more.
SpermCheck Fertility is easy to use, providing fast, easy-to-read results. Similar to a pregnancy test, the SCF uses colored lines to inform you if there is normal or low sperm count. Done in the privacy of your own home, a semen sample is placed in the solution bottle provided and the two are mixed.
In the United States, the highest fertility rates (per 1,000 women ages 15-44) during 2018-2020 (average) were to Hispanic women (64.8), followed by blacks (62.6), American Indian/Alaska Natives (60.8), Asian/Pacific Islanders (55.6) and Whites (55.3).
Is there a difference in sperm quality among different races? Yes, recent studies have found that East Asians have the highest median sperm concentrations compared to other racial groups in the United States. Other parameters such as motility and morphology did not show significant differences among the races.
What determines sperm health? Sperm health depends on various factors, including quantity, movement and structure: Quantity. Fertility is most likely if the semen discharged in a single ejaculation (ejaculate) contains at least 15 million sperm per milliliter.
Samples collected between the hours of 5am and 7.30am were found to display a statistically higher sperm concentration, total sperm count and a greater percentage of normally shaped sperm, when compared with samples that were collected later in the day.
Semen can become watery or thinner than usual if someone masturbates or engages in sexual activity multiple times each day. In this case, abstaining from sexual activity for a few days may help treat the issue. Watery semen can sometimes indicate that a person has a low sperm count or reduced semen quality.
The concentration of sperm is what makes the semen cloudy and thick, so if your ejaculate is watery it is possible that you have a low sperm count. This doesn't mean you're infertile (so precautions to prevent pregnancy still need to be taken for couples that don't want to get pregnant).
That depends on many factors and can vary from time to time. Measured on a stopwatch, it takes an average of 5 to 7 minutes for a man to reach orgasm and ejaculate. But the overall range is wide, from less than one minute to over half an hour.
Abstinence before sperm collection for IVF, semen analysis, or sperm freezing. A longstanding recommendation from the WHO suggests that men abstain from ejaculation and sex for a period of two to seven days before collection for in vitro fertilization, semen testing, or sperm freezing.
Sperm motility
Whereas sperm quality is at the best levels between ages 30-35, motility is best before age 25. And as with semen quality, motility declines dramatically after age 55.
Lifestyle choices can lower sperm numbers. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking certain medications can lower sperm numbers. Other causes of low sperm numbers include long-term sickness (such as kidney failure), childhood infections (such as mumps), and chromosome or hormone problems (such as low testosterone).