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WHY DO I NEED TO ABSTAIN PRIOR TO A SEMEN ANALYSIS?
Abstaining from ejaculating before a semen analysis is recommended to ensure accurate results. When you abstain for a few days (usually 2-4 days), there is a greater sperm concentration in the semen sample. This higher concentration accurately represents your sperm quality during the optimum time for conceiving. It also represents sperm quality, including sperm count, motility, and morphology at the recommended period of abstinence while trying to conceive.
However, it's important not to abstain for too long either, as prolonged periods of abstinence might result in decreased sperm motility and quality in the sample.
Studies have shown that the duration of abstinence before a semen analysis can impact the results.
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Sperm Concentration: A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that men who abstained for 2-5 days before providing a semen sample had higher sperm concentrations compared to those who had shorter or longer periods of abstinence. This suggests that moderate abstinence positively influences sperm concentration.
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Sperm Motility: Research published in Human Reproduction observed that sperm motility tends to be higher in samples collected after 2-5 days of abstinence. This indicates that moderate abstinence can contribute to better sperm movement, which is crucial for fertility.
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Sperm Morphology: Another study in the journal Andrologia noted that while short-term abstinence (1 day) resulted in higher total sperm counts, longer periods of abstinence (7 days) led to a higher percentage of sperm with abnormal morphology. This suggests that an optimal abstinence period is necessary to maintain normal sperm shape and structure.
These studies, among others, highlight the impact of abstinence duration on various parameters of the semen analysis. However, it's important to note that individual factors can also play a role, and guidelines for abstinence duration may vary based on findings from your prior semen analyses.