title: Evaluation of sperm morphology of electroejaculates of spinal cord-injured men by strict criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare sperm morphology of electrostimulated ejaculates of spinal cord-injured (SCI) men with that of manual ejaculates of an able-bodied population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spinal cord-injured men (n = 21) participating in a reproductive rehabilitation program and able-bodied men (n = 163) attending a male fertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male fertility clinic of a university urology practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphological characteristics of sperm evaluated by strict criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electroejaculates of SCI men had significantly higher percentages of small sperm heads, vacuolated sperm heads, and sperm with tail defects than found in manual ejaculates of able-bodied men. Cellular elements of nongerminal origin (white blood cells, red blood cells, epithelial cells) were also more likely to be present in electroejaculates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When evaluated by strict criteria, electroejaculates exhibit specific defects in sperm morphological profile. A pervasive pattern of teratozoospermia exists that may reflect underlying defects contributing to decreased fertility in SCI men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sedor
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D004542:Ejaculation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000473:pathology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology