Effect of Sample Collection Site on Semen Parameters of Healthy Young Volunteers

Abstract

The effect of sample collection site on semen parameters in ten men aged between 22 and 24 years was investigated. Sperm was collected at two sites: in a university hospital restroom for general use and in a one-person hospital room. Samples were collected from the same individual twice, with an interval of two weeks between collections. Semen parameters for the two sites were compared. Samples were collected after a minimum of three days and not longer than seven days of sexual abstinence. Sperm concentration did not differ significantly between the university hospital restroom location (86.8 AE 25.4 Â 10 6 =ml; mean AE standard deviation) and the private hospital room (97.1 AE 72.0 Â 10 6 =ml). There was no difference in the total motile sperm count or daily sperm production between the collection sites. These results suggest that the collection site has little effect on semen parameters.

Randomised controlled trial of whether erotic material is required for semen collection: impact of informed consent on outcome

“…Semen analysis is performed in laboratories on fresh samples collected by masturbation, usually in collection rooms adjacent to the laboratory. While the laboratory methodology for semen analysis has been standardized for over 30 years by WHO manuals (World Health Organisation, , ), there is no established standard on the manner of semen collection, other than a preference for collection in the laboratory rather than at home (Gerris, ; Oshio et al ., ; Song et al ., ; Elzanaty & Malm, ; Licht et al ., ) or using a specialised collection condom (Zavos & Goodpasture, ). There is evidence from small observational studies that semen analysis variables may be influenced by the nature of sexual stimulation such as whether semen is collect by interrupted intercourse or masturbation (Zavos, ,b; Zavos & Goodpasture, ; Sofikitis & Miyagawa, ; Zavos et al ., ) and whether or not visual erotic material (EM) are provided (van Roijen et al ., ; Yamamoto et al ., ).…”