Shorter abstinence decreases sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation in ejaculate

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between duration of sexual abstinence and sperm selection on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).DesignProspective study based on normozoospermic individuals.SettingFertility and IVF unit and university unit for research.Patient(s)Two cohorts of normozoospermic individuals: 21 men (aged 25–35 years) attending a clinic and with clearly adverse female factors; and a group of 12 selected donors (aged 20–25 years).Intervention(s)SDF assessment using the sperm chromatin the dispersión test (Halosperm) in two cohorts of normozoospermic men.Main Outcome Measure(s)SDF assessment after 24 hours of abstinence with recurrent ejaculation (one every 24 hours) using neat sperm samples; and SDF assessment before and after sperm selection with abstinence of 3 hours.Result(s)Lower baseline levels of SDF were observed after shorter periods of abstinence between ejaculations (24 hours and 3 hours) than those recommended. This effect is much more marked after quick repetitive ejaculation (3 hours of abstinence) and sperm selection.Conclusion(s)The present results challenge the role of abstinence in current male infertility treatments and suggest that SDF can be efficiently reduced by a biological practice consisting of short-term recurrent ejaculation coupled with effective sperm selection.