title: Influence of ejaculatory abstinence on seminal total antioxidant capacity and sperm membrane lipid peroxidation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the period of ejaculatory abstinence (EA) influences the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of semen or lipid peroxidation (LPO) of sperm membranes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective experimental trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center for reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty men from infertile couples planning intrauterine insemination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men provided semen specimens after EA periods of 1 and 4 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen analysis, peroxidase staining, and assays for seminal TAC and sperm membrane LPO, with measures compared between days 1 and 4 within individuals (internal control) using paired t tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The shorter period of EA (1 day vs. 4 days) resulted in statistically significant decreases in semen volume (-24%), sperm density (-28%), and total sperm count (-3.2%). There was a statistically significant increase in TAC with the shorter period of EA (1 day) compared with 4 days of EA. No difference was detected in sperm membrane LPO comparing 1 day of EA and 4 days of EA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher seminal TAC obtained after a shorter period of EA could diminish oxidative stress-induced sperm damage by a mechanism independent of LPO. Shorter periods of EA may thus improve sperm quality by protecting from reactive oxygen species damage, even though lower numbers of motile sperm are produced after a shorter period of EA. This would be consistent with prior research indicating improved results after intrauterine insemination under these circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina. Electronic address: paul.marshburn@carolinashealthcare.org.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Marshburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Allie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giddings
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Causby
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Usadi
authors.affiliation: Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Nury
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Steuerwald
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004542:Ejaculation; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012746:Sexual Abstinence / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Abstinence; male infertility; seminal plasma oxidative stress; spermatozoa; total antioxidant capacity