Collecting a semen sample | Progyny

Reviewed by Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny — March 2025

It’s common to feel a bit uncomfortable about collecting a semen sample for sperm analysis. Many describe the experience as awkward and even a little embarrassing. Just keep in mind that it’s something that clinic nurses and staff have managed many, many times. Their only interest is to provide a better understanding of your fertility.

How to prepare

As part of the fertility workup, you will make an appointment to produce a sample in the office. It may also be dropped off at the clinic or lab after a sample is taken at home, if that’s an available option. Make sure you present the clinic with a current, valid government ID to confirm your identity — most clinics require it. 

You’ll need to refrain from any sexual activity for two to four days before your sample is collected. This means no sex and no ejaculation of any kind, including masturbation. Sperm samples collected after two days of abstinence usually have the most active and fastest-moving sperm, compared to samples collected after shorter or longer breaks. Check with your clinic to see if they have different criteria.  

You’ll also need to limit caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, and drugs during the 10 days preceding your sperm collection. Check with your clinic for specifics. Other things that could affect the quality of your sperm sample include: 

• Medicine, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), male and female hormones (testosterone, estrogen), anabolic steroids, sulfasalazine, nitrofurantoin, and some chemotherapy medicine. 

• Herbal medicines, such as St. John’s Wort and high doses of echinacea. 

• Recent fever or hot tub use can sometimes temporarily reduce sperm counts. 

Collecting the sample

You will likely collect your semen specimen through masturbation. If you have very few or no sperm due to infertility, you may require a minor surgical procedure to provide a sample.  

There are a few general rules for collecting your semen sample: 

1. Take a shower to make sure your hands and penis are clean. Wash them with soap and rinse them with a lot of water. 
2. Do not use lubricant unless it’s provided by the clinic. This includes saliva.
3. Don’t collect your semen in a regular condom you’ve brought from home, because it may contain spermicide that affects the analysis. 
4. You need to ejaculate directly into the sterile container provided by your clinic or lab. Avoid touching the inside of the cup and try to get the first part of your ejaculation in the cup, as it is thought to be the most sperm rich. If any semen spills, do not attempt to transfer it to your cup. 
5. As soon as you’ve collected your sample, put the lid on your container. Make sure your name, date of birth, time, and date of your sample are clearly printed on the cup. Many clinics will put a sticker from your medical chart on the cup and lid. Be sure to check that it’s correct. 

Transporting your semen

If you’ve collected your sample outside of your clinic, you need to get it to the lab within one hour after ejaculation. Sperm does not have a long life outside of the body or in environments with fluctuating temperatures. Delays in delivering semen and exposure to various temperatures will result in lower overall motile sperm count and poor semen cryopreservation.

Your semen sample should be kept as close to body temperature as possible. The sperm motility value will be inaccurately low if the semen sample gets too cold or too hot.

Keep your specimen container upright in a plastic bag with the lid securely tightened. The specimen should not be placed in any purse, pocket, or briefcase.

If you have questions or concerns, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.