Effect of Ejaculation Frequency on Sperm Quality

Abstract

Sixty-four normozoospermic and 19 oligozoospermic males underwent sperm analyses of two successive specimens obtained at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals. The first specimen was produced after 3 days of abstinence. Sperm volume of normozoospermic males declined from 2.3 ± 1.0 to 1.6 ± 1.0 ml, 2.6 ± 1.0 to 2.0 ± 0.9 ml, and 2.1 ± 0.9 to 1.9 ± 1.0 ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Similarly, oligozoospermic males showed declines from 2.3 ± 1.2 to 1.7 ± 1.5 and 2.3 ± 1.1 to 1.8 ± 1.2 and an increase from 1.2 ± 1.2 to 1.5 ± 0.7 ml, respectively. Sperm counts of normozoospermic males declined from 65 ± 54 to 55 ± 34, 83 ± 57 to 69 ± 47, and 97 ± 51 to 81 ± 46 million spermatozoa/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Oligozoospermic males showed declines from 5.1 ± 5.4 to 3.8 ± 4.1 and 8.2 ± 8.6 to 7.2 ± 5.2 and an increase from 3.8 ± 0.6 to 5.7 ± 2.1 million spermatozoal/ml at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Sperm motility of normozoospermic males varied from 41 ± 20 to 38 ± 18, 55 ± 14 to 56 1/3 pm 14, and 52 ± 15 to 52 ± 20% at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. Sperm motility of oligozoospermic males varied from 42 ± 22 to 35 ± 18, 45 ± 14 to 49 ± 17, and 65 ± 6 to 63 ± 4% at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals, respectively. In normozoospermic males, sperm volume and count decreased when the specimens were obtained in 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals. Sperm motility showed, however, only minimal changes, in oligozoospermic males sperm volume, count, and motility decreased at 1- and 2-day intervals and increased at a 3-day interval. Analysis of variance did not reveal statistically significant differences for any of the evaluated parameters. While sample size does not preclude a type 2 error, these results strongly suggest that sperm parameters are not significantly affected by the time interval between donations if these fall at 1-, 2-, and 3-day intervals.