ABSTRACT
Background: The quality of semen depends upon several factors such as environment, life style, physical activity, age, and occupation. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the conventional and functional semen parameters in men practicing vigorous physical activity to those of sedentary men
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, semen samples of 17 physically active men and 15 sedentary men were collected for analysis. Semen analysis was performed according to the World Health Organization [WHO] guidelines, while functional parameters were evaluated by flow cytometry
Results: Results showed that several semen parameters [semen volume, viability, progressive motility, total motility, normal morphology, and moribund cells] were superior in the physically active group in comparison with the sedentary group. Semen parameters such as viability, progressive motility and total motility, as well as the percentage of moribund spermatozoa were significantly different between both groups. However, sperm DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial potential were not significantly different among the groups
Conclusion: Nevertheless, the physical activity shows better semen parameters than sedentary group. Taken together, our results demonstrate that regular physical activity has beneficial impact in sperm fertility parameters and such a life style can enhance the fertility status of men
ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of four repeated ejaculationson the same day at two-hour intervals on conventional and functional semenparameters
Methods: Three healthy men [32 +/- 3.6 years] donated the first semen samples after 3-4 days of sexual abstinence followed by three subsequent samples on the same day attwo-hour interval each. Semen samples were processed and analyzed according tothe World Health Organization [WHO] 2010 guidelines. Furthermore, intracellularreactive oxygen [ROS] production, sperm DNA fragmentation and mitochondrialfunction were evaluated by flow cytometry
Results: An overall decreasing trend was noted in the conventional semen parametersat second, third and fourth evaluations after two hours of abstinence in comparisonto first evaluation after 3-4 days of abstinence. The statistical comparison of theconventional semen parameters at fourth evaluation after 2 hr of abstinence revealedsignificant reduction [p<0.05] in the parameters of concentration, total sperm countand total motile sperm count at fourth evaluation. The functional parameter of intracellularROS production showed a decreasing trend with each subsequent evaluation,the difference being significant [p<0.05] at fourth evaluation in comparison to firstevaluation. An increasing trend was noted for DNA fragmentation index [DFI], althoughit remained within acceptable levels [<29%]. The [delta][psi]m[high]spermatozoa andthe integrity of the plasma membrane remained stable throughout the evaluations
Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate the potential use of additionalsemen samples with repeated ejaculations at short abstinence times in assisted reproductionprocedures particularly from severe oligospermic men