Comparison of semen parameters in samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home

Objective

To investigate differences in semen quality between samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Fertility center.

Patient(s)

Three hundred seventy-nine men assessed for infertility.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral α-glucosidase), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen and zinc), and seminal vesicle (fructose) function were measured. Two patient groups were defined according to sample collection location: at a clinic (n = 273) or at home (n = 106).

Result(s)

Compared with clinic-collected semen, home-collected samples had statistically significantly higher values for sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motility, and total count of progressive motility. Semen volume, proportion of normal sperm morphology, neutral α-glucosidase, prostate-specific antigen, zinc, and fructose did not differ significantly between groups. An abnormal sperm concentration (<20 × 10⁶/mL) was seen in statistically significantly fewer of the samples obtained at home (19/106, 18%) than at the clinic (81/273, 30%), and the same applied to proportions of samples with abnormal (< 25%) rapid progressive motility (68/106 [64%] and 205/273 [75%], respectively).

Conclusion(s)

The present results demonstrate superior semen quality in samples collected by masturbation at home compared with at a clinic. This should be taken into consideration in infertility investigations.

Key Words: Fertility, infertility, reproduction, semen collection, spermatozoa