Average Path Velocity
Fertility marker
Average Sperm Velocity
Average Path Velocity
How fast sperm actually travel, measured by computer-assisted semen analysis. Reported by labs running CASA systems such as the Hamilton-Thorne IVOS.
PED Notes
Only appears on reports from labs using computer-assisted analysis, so it is absent from most manual semen analyses. It adds a little to progressive motility by describing speed rather than just direction: sperm can be graded progressive while moving too slowly to be useful. Interpret it against the reference the analysing lab printed, because CASA parameters are not standardised across machines and a number from one system does not transfer to another.
When low
Velocity tracks the same biology as motility, so treat them together. See Total Motility and Progressive Motility.
Levers that actually move it: avoid scrotal heat, shorten abstinence to 2 to 3 days, treat infection, and reduce oxidative stress. Mitochondrial function in the sperm mid-piece drives movement, which is why CoQ10 and L-carnitine are the supplements with the most support here. See Sperm DNA Fragmentation for doses.
Compare against your own lab's reference range, not a figure from elsewhere: CASA measurements are machine-specific.
History Chart
Reading History
Frequently Asked Questions
Reference Ranges
Standard Range
Not available