Male fertility
Motility is the percentage of sperm that move at all, and it matters because sperm must travel through cervical mucus and the womb to reach an egg. Laboratories separate total motility from progressive motility. Delays between producing a sample and testing it, and exposure to heat or cold on the way to the laboratory, can lower the measured result.
Also known as: motility, sperm movement, swimming sperm
Related South Africa guides
Sources
- WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen
Last reviewed: 8 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.