title: Influence of the abstinence period on human sperm quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on within-subject semen parameters and DNA fragmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private infertility institute and university-based research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen consenting male volunteers undergoing infertility investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within-subject analysis of World Health Organization semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging after 1, 3, 5, and 8 days' abstinence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 16 men recruited, data for 11 men were included for statistical analysis because 5 men did not strictly comply with abstinence criteria. Duration of abstinence had a statistically significant positive influence on sperm concentration and semen volume. Abstinence had no statistically significant influence on pH, viability, total and grade A motility, or morphology. The percentage of DNA fragmentation remained unchanged relative to abstinence. The percentage of sperm with immature chromatin was statistically significantly increased with 1 day of abstinence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to report on within-subject semen parameter, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin packaging variations after specified target days of abstinence. Sperm numbers and semen volume increased with duration of abstinence. Abstinence did not influence pH, viability, morphology, total or grade A motility, or sperm DNA fragmentation. A short (24-hour) abstinence period negatively influenced chromatin quality.
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. dejonge@umn.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Jonge
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LaFromboise
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ombelet
authors.forename: Annemie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D004247:DNA