RESUMEN
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