Effect of sexual abstinence on the proportion of X-bearing sperm as assessed by multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization.
OBJECTIVE
To document the relation between sexual abstinence and the proportion of X-bearing sperm in the ejaculate.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Medical college.


METHODS
Ten normospermic men, aged 30 to 40 years, provided two semen samples: the first sample was obtained 1.0 to 1.5 days after ejaculation; the second, 7 to 10 days after ejaculation.


METHODS
Abstinence.


METHODS
Proportion of X- and Y-bearing sperm in two ejaculates.


RESULTS
Multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization using directly labeled alpha-satellite probes specific for chromosomes 18, X and Y were used to analyze 40,273 sperm. After 1.0 to 1.5 days of abstinence, there were 47.6% +/- 1.7% (mean +/- SD) X-bearing sperm, and after 7 to 10 days of abstinence, there were 49.6% +/- 2.1% X-bearing sperm. The X:Y ratio increased marginally from 0.905 to 0.981.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual abstinence marginally increases the proportion of X-bearing sperm in the ejaculate as assessed by multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization. This change of borderline statistical significance probably has little impact on the secondary sex ratio.
Hilsenrath
R E
RE
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Swarup
M
M
Bischoff
F Z
FZ
Buster
J E
JE
Carson
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014960:X Chromosome; D014998:Y Chromosome