Comparison of semen parameters in samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate differences in semen quality between samples collected by masturbation at a clinic and at home.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Fertility center.


METHODS
Three hundred seventy-nine men assessed for infertility.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Seminal markers of epididymal (neutral alpha-glucosidase), prostatic (prostate-specific antigen and zinc), and seminal vesicle (fructose) function were measured. Two patient groups were defined according to sample collection location: at a clinic (n = 273) or at home (n = 106).


RESULTS
Compared with clinic-collected semen, home-collected samples had statistically significantly higher values for sperm concentration, total sperm count, rapid progressive motility, and total count of progressive motility. Semen volume, proportion of normal sperm morphology, neutral alpha-glucosidase, prostate-specific antigen, zinc, and fructose did not differ significantly between groups. An abnormal sperm concentration (<20 x 10(6)/mL) was seen in statistically significantly fewer of the samples obtained at home (19/106, 18%) than at the clinic (81/273, 30%), and the same applied to proportions of samples with abnormal (< 25%) rapid progressive motility (68/106 [64%] and 205/273 [75%], respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The present results demonstrate superior semen quality in samples collected by masturbation at home compared with at a clinic. This should be taken into consideration in infertility investigations.
Reproductive Medicene Centre, Scanian Andrology Centre, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. saad.elzanaty@med.lu.se
Saad
S
Elzanaty
Johan
J
Malm
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008418:Masturbation; D008875:Middle Aged; D015983:Selection Bias; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*