Progressive Motility
Fertility marker
Progressive Motility
Percentage of sperm moving actively forward. WHO 6th edition lower reference limit is 30%. Most clinically relevant motility parameter for natural conception.
PED Notes
Progressive motility is the most functionally important parameter for fertility — sperm must swim forward to reach the egg. AAS suppress this severely. During recovery, progressive motility is often the slowest parameter to normalise. A semen analysis showing adequate concentration but poor progressive motility still indicates impaired fertility. Monitor this marker closely during PCT and recovery if fertility is a goal.
On-cycle context: Near-zero progressive motility on AAS is expected. If you are not planning to conceive, this is not alarming — progressive motility is the slowest semen parameter to recover post-PCT.
See Semen Volume marker for full PCT and fertility recovery protocol. See Total Motility for motility-specific supplements.
Progressive motility is the most important parameter for natural conception. Same interventions as Total Motility apply, with emphasis on:
- L-Carnitine -- 2-3g/day (strongest evidence for improving progressive motility specifically)
- CoQ10 -- 200-400mg/day
- Progressive motility is the slowest semen parameter to recover post-AAS -- if concentration is adequate but progressive motility remains low after 6+ months of recovery, consider:
- IUI (intrauterine insemination) as interim fertility treatment
- Reproductive endocrinologist referral for optimisation
- Extended HMG therapy (75 IU 3x/week for 3-6 months)
References:
- McBride, J. A., & Coward, R. M. (2016). Recovery of spermatogenesis following testosterone replacement therapy or anabolic-androgenic steroid use. Asian Journal of Andrology, 18(3), 373-380. DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.173938
- Garrido-Maraver, J., Cordero, M. D., Oropesa-Avila, M., et al. (2014). Coenzyme Q10 therapy. Molecular Syndromology, 5(3-4), 187-197. DOI: 10.1159/000360101
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Reference Ranges
Standard Range
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