Association between semen collection time and semen parameters: an observational study.

Shun Bai; Xian-chao Dou; Hao-lin QI; Yan-song Zhu; Yin-tao Zhang; Yi-xun Liu; Xue-chun HU; Cheng Cao; Xian-hong Tong; Bo XU; Li-min WU; Xiao-hua Jiang

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Association between semen collection time and semen parameters: an observational study.

Author: Shun BAI ¹ ; Xian-Chao DOU ² ; Hao-Lin QI ³ ; Yan-Song ZHU ⁴ ; Yin-Tao ZHANG ⁵ ; Yi-Xun LIU ⁶ ; Xue-Chun HU ⁶ ; Cheng CAO ¹ ; Xian-Hong TONG ¹ ; Bo XU ¹ ; Li-Min WU ¹ ; Xiao-Hua JIANG ¹
Author Information

1. Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
2. School of Medical Imaging, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233030, China.
3. The First Clinical Medical School, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
4. School of Life Science, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
5. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
6. Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: asthenozoospermia; semen collection time; semen quality; teratozoospermia
MeSH: Male; Humans; Semen Analysis; Semen; Sperm Motility; Sperm Count; Asthenozoospermia; Spermatozoa
From: Asian Journal of Andrology 2023;25(3):339-344
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: The process of semen collection plays a key role in the quality of semen specimens. However, the association between semen collection time and semen quality is still unclear. In this study, ejaculates by masturbation from 746 subfertile men or healthy men who underwent semen analysis were examined. The median (interquartile range) semen collection time for all participants was 7.0 (5.0-11.0) min, and the median time taken for semen collection was lower in healthy men than that in subfertile men (6.0 min vs 7.0 min). An increase in the time required to produce semen samples was associated with poorer semen quality. Among those undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART), the miscarriage rate was positively correlated with the semen collection time. After adjusting for confounders, the highest quartile (Q4) of collection time was negatively associated with semen volume and sperm concentration. A longer time to produce semen samples (Q3 and Q4) was negatively correlated with progressive and total sperm motility. In addition, there was a significant negative linear association between the semen collection time and the sperm morphology. Higher risks of asthenozoospermia (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.31-3.25, P = 0.002) and teratozoospermia (adjusted OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.10-3.55, P = 0.02) were observed in Q3 than those in Q1. Our results indicate that a higher risk of abnormal semen parameter values was associated with an increase in time for semen collection, which may be related to male fertility through its association with semen quality.