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Abstinence Not Necessary For Better Sperm
New findings have found there is no medical reason couples should abstain
from sex to improve conception chances.
The practice of prohibiting sex
for up to a week prior to under going
certain forms of fertility treatments has been challenged by new research by
Israeli fertility experts. Israeli scientists have found evidence that men
with low sperm count actually reduce sperm quality
by holding back for more
than a day or two.
Semen samples were tested in over 7200 specimens for semen volume,
concentration and shape. The percentage and total count of active and moving
sperm were also taken. The samples were taken from men being treated for
infertility or investigated for infertility and had abstained from
ejaculatory sex for up to two weeks at a time.
In the test, 4500 of the samples had normal sperm counts
. The remaining
samples showed reduced counts in various amounts from mild to moderate to
severe. The proportion of mobile sperm fell significantly from day two on,
remaining at a low by day six in the reduced sperm count samples.
Semen volume increased up to 11 to 14 days of abstinence
. But the shape and
form of the sperm gradually degraded no matter the volume of the semen.
The volume of semen significantly coincides with the duration of abstinence,
while sperm motility was directly related to abstinence.
Most fertility clinics follow the World Health Organization guidelines of
recommending sexual abstinence for two to seven days prior to treatment.
The data contested the role of abstaining men in male infertility treatments.
Ideally for patients who are recommended minimum abstinence, it should be for
nor more than a couple of days. This is particularly helpful in fertility
treatments involving artificial insemination, due to the fact that the best
quality sperm is necessary.
Research wasn't conclusive on why a sperm gets damaged and no longer lives.
DNA damage from smoking or other agents could be the cause. Or the sperm
could be more impressionable to harmful agents and only benefit from short
periods in the reproductive tract.
Normal men were found to have no change in sperm motility. Malformed sperm
increased only after 11 days. And then only marginally.
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