Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics
Variation in the ejaculatory abstinence period suggested by different guidance bodies have resulted in a growing concern among researchers and clinicians over what the precise period of ejaculatory abstinence ought to be for an optimal semen sample. Several studies have thus been undertaken to exami...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Royan Institute (ACECR), Tehran
2018-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Fertility and Sterility |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijfs.ir/article_45441_57b4ca1004d91f008026e9ebee3bce5c.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818302868926496768 |
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| author | Bashir M Ayad Gerhard Van der Horst Stefan S Du Plessis |
| author_facet | Bashir M Ayad Gerhard Van der Horst Stefan S Du Plessis |
| author_sort | Bashir M Ayad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Variation in the ejaculatory abstinence period suggested by different guidance bodies have resulted in a growing concern among researchers and clinicians over what the precise period of ejaculatory abstinence ought to be for an optimal semen sample. Several studies have thus been undertaken to examine the association between the length of sexual abstinence and semen characteristics. Not all studies, however, have arrived at the same conclusions. This study aims to review all existing literature published during the past few decades pertaining to the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on semen quality. For the purpose of this systematic review, all data related to sexual abstinence duration and seminal parameters were re-analysed to homogenize the current data. Thorough PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar, a literature search was conducted using the keywords “sexual abstinence”, “ejaculatory abstinence”, “semen”, “spermatozoa”, “semen analysis”, “sperm parameters”, “motility”, “reactive oxygen species (ROS)” and “DNA fragmentation”. After carefully reviewing all the literature, 30 relevant papers, both written in English and published between January 1979 and December 2016, were included in this review. The weight of the evidence suggests that the decline in semen volume and sperm concentration with shorter abstinence periods is accompanied by a substantial improvement in sperm motility characteristics, especially progressive motility and velocity. Nevertheless, available data are insufficient to support definitive conclusions regarding the influence of the ejaculatory abstinence period on advanced semen parameters (ROS, DNA fragmentation and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity) and pregnancy rates. In conclusion, taking all data into account, shortening of the abstinence period may be beneficial to sperm quality. Furthermore, we recommend that the current guidelines regarding the prescribed abstinence period should be revisited. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:45:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e44cbd45b1254d20bcfafb5dc5953f09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-076X 2008-0778 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:45:45Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Royan Institute (ACECR), Tehran |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Fertility and Sterility |
| spelling | doaj.art-e44cbd45b1254d20bcfafb5dc5953f092022-12-21T23:57:41ZengRoyan Institute (ACECR), TehranInternational Journal of Fertility and Sterility2008-076X2008-07782018-01-0111423824610.22074/ijfs.2018.519245441Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen CharacteristicsBashir M Ayad0Gerhard Van der Horst1Stefan S Du Plessis2Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South AfricaDivision of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South AfricaDivision of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South AfricaVariation in the ejaculatory abstinence period suggested by different guidance bodies have resulted in a growing concern among researchers and clinicians over what the precise period of ejaculatory abstinence ought to be for an optimal semen sample. Several studies have thus been undertaken to examine the association between the length of sexual abstinence and semen characteristics. Not all studies, however, have arrived at the same conclusions. This study aims to review all existing literature published during the past few decades pertaining to the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on semen quality. For the purpose of this systematic review, all data related to sexual abstinence duration and seminal parameters were re-analysed to homogenize the current data. Thorough PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar, a literature search was conducted using the keywords “sexual abstinence”, “ejaculatory abstinence”, “semen”, “spermatozoa”, “semen analysis”, “sperm parameters”, “motility”, “reactive oxygen species (ROS)” and “DNA fragmentation”. After carefully reviewing all the literature, 30 relevant papers, both written in English and published between January 1979 and December 2016, were included in this review. The weight of the evidence suggests that the decline in semen volume and sperm concentration with shorter abstinence periods is accompanied by a substantial improvement in sperm motility characteristics, especially progressive motility and velocity. Nevertheless, available data are insufficient to support definitive conclusions regarding the influence of the ejaculatory abstinence period on advanced semen parameters (ROS, DNA fragmentation and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity) and pregnancy rates. In conclusion, taking all data into account, shortening of the abstinence period may be beneficial to sperm quality. Furthermore, we recommend that the current guidelines regarding the prescribed abstinence period should be revisited.http://www.ijfs.ir/article_45441_57b4ca1004d91f008026e9ebee3bce5c.pdfdna fragmentationsemen analysissexual abstinencespermatozoasperm motility |
| spellingShingle | Bashir M Ayad Gerhard Van der Horst Stefan S Du Plessis Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics International Journal of Fertility and Sterility dna fragmentation semen analysis sexual abstinence spermatozoa sperm motility |
| title | Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics |
| title_full | Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics |
| title_short | Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics |
| title_sort | revisiting the relationship between the ejaculatory abstinence period and semen characteristics |
| topic | dna fragmentation semen analysis sexual abstinence spermatozoa sperm motility |
| url | http://www.ijfs.ir/article_45441_57b4ca1004d91f008026e9ebee3bce5c.pdf |
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