Results The duration of abstinence had a statistically significant positive influence on sperm concentration and volume, the number of leukocytes and a statistically significant negative influence on sperm motility and vitality. Conclusion Increase in the sexual abstinence period influences sperm quality. Keywords: abstinence period, sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation, concentration, motility, volume. Sample collection Semen samples were collected in sterile containers by masturbation.
Determination of sperm apoptosis Sperm apoptosis was measured using annexin-V, a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein with a high affinity for phosphatidylserine that is present on the inner leaflet of the sperm membrane, except for apoptotic sperm, in which phosphatidylserine is externalized. Quality control To control for intra-observer and inter-observer variability, multiple fractions of semen samples were obtained from randomly selected patients.
Sample size The sample size was calculated by making a comparison between two proportions. RESULTS General population characteristics The regression analysis did not show a correlation between days of abstinence and men's age, history of fathering at least one child or generating a pregnancy that had ended in miscarriage , time of infertility, tobacco use, regular alcohol use, presence of varicocele and vitamin supplement use. Table 1 Correlation between general population characteristics and Sexual Abstinence Period.
Open in a separate window. Table 2 Correlation between general semen parameters and sexual abstinence period. Table 3 Correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation, sperm chromatin packing, sperm apoptosis and sperm mitochondrial membrane potential according to the sexual abstinence period. Role of sperm chromatin abnormalities and DNA damage in male infertility.
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Effect of abstinence on sperm acrosin, hypoosmotic swelling, and other semen variables. Fertil Steril. Functional evaluation of sperm in Colombian fertile men. Arch Esp Urol. Influence of analytical and biological variation on the clinical interpretation of seminal parameters. Influence of the abstinence period on human sperm quality. Effects of H2O2 exposure on human sperm motility parameters, reactive oxygen species levels and nitric oxide levels. Utility of the sperm chromatin structure assay as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the human fertility clinic.
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The biggest takeaway here may be how crucial sperm testing is to your strategy. Sperm testing allows you to take charge of your fertility and be part of the conversation with your partner when the time is right.
And that is the most valuable thing of all. The basics of conception Women are most likely to get pregnant during their fertile window, the five days leading up to ovulation. But for men with low sperm counts, the advice changes. Does abstinence improve chances of conception for men with low sperm count?
What happens to sperm quality after a long period of abstinence? Semen analysis results for men with normal sperm count: Additionally, the genetic health of sperm suffers with longer abstinence windows. Sperm DNA fragmentation analysis results: Sperm quality is just as important, if not more important, to chances of conception than sperm count.
Abstinence before sperm collection for IVF, semen analysis, or sperm freezing A longstanding recommendation from the WHO suggests that men abstain from ejaculation and sex for a period of two to seven days before collection for in vitro fertilization, semen testing, or sperm freezing.
Understanding your fertility for clear guidance The biggest takeaway here may be how crucial sperm testing is to your strategy. A normal, healthy sperm count could give you the option for a less demanding intercourse schedule, for example. For variables without normal distribution, the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed. The semen samples from 65 men after 1 and 4 days of EA were analyzed. The conventional semen analysis results are shown in Table 2.
Liquefaction time showed no difference between the two analyzed samples 1 and 4 days after EA. Conventional semen analysis results from men after 1 and 4 days of ejaculatory abstinence.
The oxidative activity results are shown in Table 3. Oxidative stress analysis results from men after 1 and 4 days of ejaculatory abstinence.
Seminal plasma oxidative activity was compared using a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and data is presented as median; interquartile range IQR; Q1—Q3. Sperm function and epididymal function analysis results from men after 1 and 4 days of ejaculatory abstinence. Acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity and DNA integrity were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and data is presented as median; interquartile range IQR Q1—Q3. Epididymal function showed no difference between the two analyzed samples 1 and 4 days of EA; Table 4.
The relationship between sperm and oxidative stress has been studied for a long time. The purpose of this study was to determine which qualitative semen characteristics may be affected by the action of oxidative stress. Hence, two EA periods were considered: 1 and 4 days. When only the outcomes of the conventional semen analysis were analyzed, the samples collected after 4 days of EA showed an increase in volume and total sperm number compared with samples collected after 1 day of EA.
These findings are consistent with other studies De Jonge et al. On the other hand, sperm motility of samples collected after 1 day of EA was better compared with samples collected after 4 days of EA, as previously observed Mayorga-Torres et al.
This study also reports similar results in samples collected after 4 days of EA. When ROS are present in physiological quantities, they contribute to the processes of maturation, hyperactivation, capacitation, the acrosome reaction, attachment of spermatozoa to the zona pellucida, and fusion of spermatozoon to the oolemma.
However, an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants generates oxidative stress and leads to lipid peroxidation, a reaction with polyunsaturated fatty acids of the plasma and mitochondrial membranes of the sperm Aitken et al. This phenomenon produces a product called malondialdehyde, a stable and mutagenic substance that can covalently bind to DNA nucleotides, peptides, and proteins and change their molecular functions.
Thus, it can damage the acrosome, impair mitochondrial activity, and alter nuclear DNA integrity de Lamirande et al. Consistently, samples collected after 4 days of EA an increase in oxidative stress determined by seminal plasma oxidative activity TBARS and intracellular oxidative activity superoxide anion was observed. An increase in ROS levels in seminal plasma leads to oxidative stress.
ROS can be produced by two cells: leukocytes and sperm. In the present study, we excluded men with leukocytospermia; in this context, sperm are the largest producers of ROS. In this study, intracellular oxidative activity was analyzed by the presence of superoxide anion, a free radical generated by the addition of an electron to an oxygen molecule.
For samples collected after 4 days of EA, there was an increase in intracellular oxidative activity superoxide anion and a decrease in mitochondrial activity. These results agree with the findings described above, with regard to the non-mitochondrial origin. In a previous study carried out by our group Adami et al.
Specifically, an increase in intracellular oxidative activity superoxide anion and a decrease in mitochondrial activity was found. According to Said et al. Although morphology and concentration did not differ in this study, the motility in samples collected after 4 days of EA showed similar results, namely a high level of intracellular oxidative activity superoxide anion and low motility.
Some studies have shown that abnormal sperm are more susceptible to oxidative stress damage. Abnormal sperm may be generated by the failure of compaction of the chromatin protamine , failure of apoptosis, and failure of phagocytosis by Sertoli cells Sakkas et al. These sperm may suffer from the actions of oxidative stress from the intracellular or extracellular environment or both.
Extracellular oxidative stress from the seminal plasma can act on sperm. The combination of intracellular and extracellular stress can lead to acrosomal, mitochondrial, and DNA damage. In the samples collected after 4 days of EA, the action of oxidative stress on the acrosome was observed.
In this case, oxidative stress may have acted on sperm plasma membrane glycoproteins, which may have been disrupted by lipid peroxidation. Oxidative stress can also act on the genetic material of sperm and lead to nuclear DNA fragmentation.
The majority of sperm nuclear DNA is compacted by protamines; the rest is compacted by persistent histones. According to Noblanc et al. This vulnerability can be worsened by a long-sperm storage period in the epididymal tail, which can increase oxidative stress, as observed in samples collected after 4 days of EA compared to samples collected after 1 day of EA. Another factor that could render sperm more susceptible is epididymal dysfunction, whether the sperm remain in the epididymis for a long time, the period of sperm transit through the epididymal head, body, and tail , and the period of EA.
NAG is produced and secreted by epididymal epithelial cells Guerin et al. NAG activity is significantly different between fertile and infertile men Cooper , Vivas-Acevedo et al.
Besides the epididymis and testis, the prostate and seminal vesicle are essential organs for fertility. Furthermore, the secretions of these last two tissues can directly interfere with the volume and pH of the seminal plasma WHO As stated earlier, the samples collected after 1 day of EA were more alkaline compared to samples after 4 days of EA.
According to the WHO guidelines, in an acidic environment, sperm are immobile, while in an alkaline environment, sperm motility increases. However, both analyzed periods showed optimum pH 7—8. Two accessory organs are responsible for the majority of seminal plasma secretions: the prostate and seminal vesicle. Goss et al. The accessory gland secretions decreased with the reduced EA period, thus diminishing the alkaline secretion of the seminal vesicle and the acid secretion of the prostate, causing only a partial imbalance of the final pH, as observed in our study.
Besides volume and pH, the prostate and seminal vesicle can interfere in the oxidative stress of seminal plasma. Samples collected after 4 days of EA showed an increase in oxidative stress compared to samples collected after 1 day of EA. These molecules are increasingly present in our environment: air, water, soil, food, and industrial products, among others.
Therefore, they are difficult to eliminate from contact with humans. However, in this study, the two seminal samples 1 day and 4 days of EA were collected in the same week to reduce the bias of the endocrine disruptors on seminal samples.
Our study brought additional information placed alongside other studies and of medical facts can facilitate clinical decision-making on which procedure should be performed. In conclusion, our study verified that the increase in oxidative stress on samples collected after 4 days of EA led to a decrease in acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and nuclear DNA integrity compared with samples collected after 1 day of EA.
Therefore, a long-sperm storage period in the epididymal tail 4 days of EA , beyond the time required for sperm transit, allows ROS to act for a longer period on sperm, which affects the sperm quality. These results may be considered to obtain better results in assisted reproduction techniques in order to improve both fertilization and implantation rates. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.
F K O concept and design of the research, carrying out the experimental work, data analysis and interpretation, writing the article and revision of the manuscript. R R A carrying out the experimental work, data analysis and interpretation, revision of the manuscript.
D M S concept and design of the research, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the article and revision of the manuscript. Andrologia 50 e Urology 94 — Aitken RJ Changes in spermatozoa during epididymal transit.
Active oxygen in spermatozoa during epididymal transit. Journal of Andrology 33 — Human Reproduction 32 — International Journal of Fertility and Sterility 11 — Human Reproduction 31 —
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