Spermoculture: improvement of the bacteriological quality of samples by direct verbal counseling before semen collection.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the bacteriologic quality of samples after direct verbal or written counseling for semen collection.


METHODS
Prospective randomized comparative study.


METHODS
Laboratories of biology of reproduction and microbiology in university hospitals.


METHODS
Male partners of infertile couples on their first attempt to collect semen were assigned randomly into two groups.


METHODS
In one group (n = 52) the patients were given direct verbal instruction by one of the investigators on how to avoid bacterial contamination during semen collection. In the other group (n = 52) the patients were asked to follow the usual written instructions.


METHODS
Bacterial count, number of species, classification of the samples in positive, negative, and noninformative cultures.


RESULTS
Direct verbal teaching significantly reduced the bacterial count (2.06 +/- 1.6 versus 3.29 +/- 1.6 log cfu/mL; mean +/- SD) and number of species (1.44 +/- 2.02 versus 3.25 +/- 2.25), increased the percentage of sterile cultures (59.6% versus 23.1%), and decreased the percentage of noninformative cultures (29.9% versus 50%).


CONCLUSIONS
Direct verbal counseling on how to avoid bacterial contamination during semen collection significantly improves the bacteriologic quality of the samples.
Boucher
P
P
Hospices Civils de Lyon, France.
Lejeune
H
H
Pinatel
M C
MC
Gille
Y
Y
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*