Male fertility test in Goa: semen analysis and the tests that may follow
Medically reviewed by our consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist (MBBS, MS OBG). Last reviewed: 9 November 2026.
A male fertility test usually starts with a semen analysis, which checks the count, movement and shape of sperm. At Pai Hospital, Vasco, Goa, the sample is given at the hospital laboratory after two to seven days without ejaculation. A low result is repeated, and hormone tests or a scrotal scan are added only when the doctor advises.
When a couple is trying for a baby, the man is tested from the start, alongside his wife. The tests are simple, and none of them is painful. This guide by the Pai Hospital Team explains each male fertility test in the order it is usually done, how to prepare, and what happens after the report. If you want to know more about the treatment side, read our page on male infertility treatment in Goa.
What is the first male fertility test?
The semen analysis comes first. It is the basic test of male fertility, and for many men it is the only test needed. The laboratory looks at a fresh semen sample under the microscope and measures:
- Volume: how much semen was produced.
- Count: how many sperm there are in each millilitre and in the whole sample.
- Motility: how many sperm are moving, and how many swim forward.
- Morphology: how many sperm have a normal shape.
- Other findings: how quickly the semen turns liquid, its pH, and whether pus cells or clumps of sperm are seen.
Each result is compared with the WHO reference values printed on the report. Our page on the semen analysis report and sperm under the microscope explains each line in detail.
Why is the semen test repeated?
Sperm counts rise and fall naturally from one sample to the next. Sperm also take about two to three months to form, so a fever, an illness or a course of some medicines in the past few months can pull a result down for a while. For this reason, one low report is not a final answer. If a result is outside the reference values, the test is usually repeated, often after a few weeks. After a recent fever, the doctor may wait about three months before the repeat.
If no sperm are seen at all, the laboratory spins the sample down and checks the bottom of the tube again before calling it azoospermia. Read more on azoospermia, its causes and treatment.
Which hormone tests may be advised?
Hormone blood tests are not needed for every man. The doctor advises them mainly when the sperm count is low or no sperm are seen, or when the examination or history points to a hormone problem. The usual tests are:
- FSH and LH: the two messenger hormones from the brain that tell the testes to make sperm and testosterone.
- Testosterone: the main male hormone. It is usually taken in the morning, when the level is highest.
- Prolactin: checked in some men, for example when testosterone is low or there is low sex drive.
FSH and LH are done in-house in the hospital laboratory, and the lab will tell you if any other test is sent to a partner laboratory. The lab will also tell you what time to come and whether you need to come fasting.
When is a scrotal ultrasound done?
A scrotal ultrasound is a simple, external scan of the testes and the area around them. It is advised when the doctor feels something during the examination, or when the report suggests a problem. It can show the size of the testes, swollen veins above the testis (a varicocele), cysts, or signs of a blockage in the tubes that carry sperm. It needs no special preparation.
What is a sperm DNA fragmentation test?
A semen analysis shows how sperm swim and how they look, but it cannot see the genetic material inside them. A DNA fragmentation test measures how much of that material is broken. It is not a routine test. It is considered only in selected cases, such as repeated miscarriage, repeated failed IUI or IVF, or when no cause has been found after the usual tests. In a few men with no sperm or a very low count, the doctor may also advise genetic blood tests.
How should I prepare for a semen analysis?
- Abstinence: leave a gap of two to seven days without ejaculation before the test, or the gap the lab gives you. A gap that is too short or too long can change the result.
- Where: give the sample at the hospital laboratory, in a private room, so that it is examined soon after it is produced. Read about our laboratory in Vasco, open 24 hours, every day.
- How: collect the whole sample by masturbation into the sterile container the lab gives you. Do not use any oil, soap or lubricant, as most of them harm sperm. Tell the staff if any part of the sample was missed.
- Health: tell the lab if you have had a fever or an illness in the past three months, and bring a list of your medicines.
- Before you come: call or WhatsApp the laboratory to check the timing and preparation.
How long does the report take?
Routine blood tests, including hormone tests, run on automated analysers, and the laboratory runs quality-control checks every day before patient reports are released. Most routine reports are usually ready within hours. Tests sent to a partner laboratory take longer. Ask the lab when your report will be ready.
How do I read my report?
Look at the numbers together, not one at a time. One useful figure is the total number of forward-moving sperm in the whole sample. A low shape figure on its own worries many men, but the standard for a "normal" shape is very strict, so this figure often looks low even in fertile men. A result inside the reference values does not promise a pregnancy, and a result below them does not mean pregnancy is impossible. Please do not start any medicine or supplement based on the report alone. Your treating doctor reads it together with your history, your examination and your wife's tests.
What happens after the male fertility test?
The next step depends on the whole picture: the repeat report, any hormone or scan results, your wife's age and tests, and how long you have been trying. Some men need only general advice, such as stopping smoking, cutting down alcohol and keeping the testes away from heat. A treatable cause, such as an infection or a hormone problem, is treated first. When the count or motility is mildly low, IUI treatment in Goa may be discussed. When it is very low, IVF with ICSI may be advised; read about IVF and ICSI for low sperm count and our IVF centre in Goa. Your doctor will explain the options for your own report.
Written and reviewed by the Pai Hospital Team.
Which test checks male fertility?
The semen analysis is the first and main test of male fertility. It checks the volume of semen and the count, movement and shape of sperm. Hormone blood tests, a scrotal ultrasound or a sperm DNA test are added only when the doctor advises them.
Where can I get a male fertility test in Goa?
The semen analysis and the FSH and LH hormone tests are done in the laboratory inside Pai Hospital, Vaddem, Vasco-da-Gama, which is open 24 hours, every day. Call or WhatsApp the laboratory before you come to check the timing and preparation.
How many days of abstinence are needed before a semen test?
Leave a gap of two to seven days without ejaculation, or the gap the laboratory gives you. A gap that is too short or too long can change the result.
Can I collect the semen sample at home?
Please give the sample at the hospital laboratory, in a private room, so that it is examined soon after it is produced. Motility drops if a sample gets cold or waits too long. Ask the lab if you have a difficulty.
My semen report is low. What should I do?
Do not worry over one report. Counts vary from sample to sample, and a recent fever or illness can lower them for a while, so the test is usually repeated. Bring both reports to your doctor, who will explain what they mean for you.
Who explains the male fertility test report?
Your treating doctor. The report is read together with your history, your examination and your wife's tests. Please do not start or stop any medicine or supplement based on the report alone.
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This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.