Fertility and Sterility
Volume 82, Issue 1 , Pages 57-65, July 2004

Influence of the abstinence period on human sperm quality

Presented at the Twin-Meeting Alpha-Andrology 2003, Antwerp, Belgium, September 24–27, 2003.

  • Christopher De Jonge, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Christopher De Jonge, Ph.D., Reproductive Medicine Center, 606 24th Avenue South, Suite 500, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (FAX: 612-627-4334).
    • Reproductive Medicine Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • ,
  • Marie LaFromboise, B.S.

      Affiliations

    • Reproductive Medicine Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
    • ,
  • Eugene Bosmans, Pharm.D.

      Affiliations

    • Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Genk, Belgium
    • ,
  • Willem Ombelet, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Genk, Belgium
    • ,
  • Annemie Cox

      Affiliations

    • Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Genk, Belgium
    • ,
  • Martine Nijs, M.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Genk, Belgium

Received 11 December 2003; received in revised form 2 March 2004; accepted 2 March 2004.

Abstract 

Objective

To determine the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on within-subject semen parameters and DNA fragmentation.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

Private infertility institute and university-based research laboratory.

Patient(s)

Sixteen consenting male volunteers undergoing infertility investigation.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main outcome measure(s)

Within-subject analysis of World Health Organization semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging after 1, 3, 5, and 8 days' abstinence.

Result(s)

Of 16 men recruited, data for 11 men were included for statistical analysis because 5 men did not strictly comply with abstinence criteria. Duration of abstinence had a statistically significant positive influence on sperm concentration and semen volume. Abstinence had no statistically significant influence on pH, viability, total and grade A motility, or morphology. The percentage of DNA fragmentation remained unchanged relative to abstinence. The percentage of sperm with immature chromatin was statistically significantly increased with 1 day of abstinence.

Conclusion(s)

This is the first study to report on within-subject semen parameter, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin packaging variations after specified target days of abstinence. Sperm numbers and semen volume increased with duration of abstinence. Abstinence did not influence pH, viability, morphology, total or grade A motility, or sperm DNA fragmentation. A short (24-hour) abstinence period negatively influenced chromatin quality.

Keywords:  Abstinence, DNA fragmentation, chromatin, semen quality, IUI

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PII: S0015-0282(04)00605-3

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.03.014

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 82, Issue 1 , Pages 57-65, July 2004

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