Within-subject variability of human semen in regard to sperm count, volume, total number of spermatozoa and length of abstinence

Abstract

Summary. The within-subject variability of the semen sperm count (n), volume (v) and the total number of spermatozoa (N) was studied on 220 ejaculates from 36 normal subjects after an abstinence of 7 days or less. For each of the three variables, the within-subject standard deviation , \g=s\, was practically proportional to the mean, \ g=m\ ; the common value of the coefficient of variation \ g=s\ / \ g=m\ for all subjects was very high: 0\m=.\39for n, 0\m=.\28for v and 0\m=.\55for N. The 95% confidence intervals based on a single ejaculate were asymmetrical and very large, the lower and upper limits being respectively 0\m=.\5\ m=x\n and 2\m=.\3\ m=x\ n; 0\m=.\7\ m=x\v and 1\m=.\8\ m=x\ v; 0\m=.\4\ m=x\N and 2\m=.\9\ m=x\N. The three semen characteristics for a given subject were highly correlated with the length of abstinence: for an increase in abstinence of 1 day there were mean increments of 13 \m=x\ 106/ml for n, 0\m=.\4ml for v, and 87 \m=x\106 for N.

Semen Analysis Of Infertile Igbo Males In Enugu, Eastern Nigeria

“…This may probably be as a result of the 3-5 days abstinence method employed in this study. This is supported by the observation of Schwartz et al, (1979) that each day of sexual abstinence increases the sperm count in healthy sperm donors by 13 million cells/ml. It is however re-assuring that fertility has been reported in men with counts of less than 5 million (Yeates, 1978).…”

Influence of Abstinence and Ejaculation-to-Analysis Delay on Semen Analysis Parameters of Suspected Infertile Men

“…14). Similarly, the mean total sperm count is also lower in the suspected infertile population, even when ejaculates of <40 X 10Vml are excluded: 400 x lo6 spermatozoa after 5 days vs. 520 x lo6 [14].…”

Intraindividual Variability of Concanavalin a Binding to the Plasmalemma of Human Spermatozoa

“…I) [ S , 121. Sperm count, volume, and total number of spermatozoa vary considerably as a function of the length of abstinence [21], but a large part of the within-subject variability in semen characteristics remains unexplained. The present results seem to be independent of the order of ejaculate collection, motility of spermatozoa, or the length of abstinence, indicating that sperm membrane characteristics are likewise dependent on unknown controlling factors.…”