Prevalence of sperm in the post-ejaculatory urine of fertile and subfertile men.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of sperm within post-ejaculatory urine in both fertile and infertile men.


METHODS
Fifteen men of proven fertility and 66 non-azoospermic men being evaluated for infertility were recruited in two academic centers. Laboratory studies included a semen analysis and the examination of post-ejaculate urine for the presence and concentration of sperm.


RESULTS
The median total urine sperm count for the fertile group (26.6 million) was not significantly greater than the infertile group (8.3 million, P = 0.63). The median percentage of total sperm (urine plus semen) present in urine for the fertile group (14.8%) was not different from that in the infertile group (15.3%, P = 0.36). Sperm were found in the urine of 73% of fertile and 65% of infertile patients (P = 0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of sperm in the post-ejaculatory urine in the fertile population is similar to that in infertile patients, which suggests that a great deal more information is needed to interpret this test in the management of these patients.
Sigman
Mark
M
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. mark_sigman@brown.edu
Boyle
Karen
K
Jarow
Jon P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000652:urine*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen; D013076:Sperm Count; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000592:standards*; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology*