Login to Access Video or Poster Abstract: MP07-03
Sources of Funding: none

Introduction

High sperm DNA fragmentation rates reduce pregnancy rates and are related to higher rates of pregnancy loss. Sperm DNA fragmentation rates above a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) of 30% is associated with lower pregnancy rates. There have been suggestions that more frequent ejaculation may reduce sperm DNA damage. Our study seeks to determine whether a second ejaculate provided on the same day has lower DNA fragmentation rates. _x000D_

Methods

Men provided 2 semen samples approximately 4 hours apart for analysis. In addition to the regular semen testing, sperm DNA fragmentation rates were measured using the sperm chromatin structure assay and reported as the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI).Data analysis was performed using a Student’s T-test .

Results

A total of 54 men, mean age of 38.6 +/- 5.9 (SD) years old provided double ejaculates. The DFI in the first and second ejaculates was 38.6 +/- 21.2% and 35.5 +/- 21.2% (p < 0.001). For those with DFI < 30% on the first semen sample, the mean DFI decreased from 19.8 +/- 5.8% to 17.1 +/- 5.7% (p<0.001), while for those with initial DFI > 30%, the mean DFI decreased from 51.5 +/- 17.8% to 47.1 +/- 19.3% (p<0.001). There were a range of changes in DFI, with 8/54 (15%) found to have decreases of DFI >10% in the second ejaculate. For the men with elevated but not extremely high DFIs (DFI range 30-40%) found with the first semen specimen, the DFIs were reduced to the normal DFI (DFI <30%) range in 64% (7/11) of the men with the second semen sample. _x000D_ _x000D_ As expected, semen volume was significantly lower on the second sample 2.3 +/- 1.3 mL vs 1.5 +/-0.9 mL (p<0.001) as was the total motile sperm count (TMC) decreasing from 20.5 +/- 40 to 9.6 +/- 17.1 X 106 (p=0.003). 23/54 men had initial TMCs > 5 X 106, with 6/23 declining to < 5 X 106 in the second sample. 29/54 had TMCs above zero but less that 5 X 106 for both the first and second semen sample. 2/54 (4%) had TMC = 0 with the first semen specimen, which increased to a mean of 0.9 X 106 with the second sample. _x000D_

Conclusions

This is the first prospective study to identify significant improvements in sperm DFI rates in the second sample from men providing a double ejaculate. Testing men for changes in DFI rates with double ejaculates should be considered in those with high sperm DFI rates.

Funding

none