Revisiting The Relationship between The Ejaculatory Abstinence Period and Semen Characteristics

Variations in the ejaculatory abstinence durations suggested by different guidance bodies have resulted in a growing concern among researchers over what the concise period of ejaculatory abstinence for an optimal semen sample ought to be. Several studies have been undertaken to examine the association between the length of sexual abstinence and semen characteristics. Not all studies, however, have come to the same conclusions. This review aims to provide the first ever overview of all of the existing literature published during the past few decades pertaining to the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on semen quality. For the purpose of this systematic review all data related to sexual abstinence duration and seminal parameters were analysed in order to homogenize the current data. Thorough PubMed, MEDLINE and Google Scholar searches were conducted using a combination of keywords, such as “sexual abstinence”, “ejaculatory abstinence”, “semen”, “spermatozoa”, “semen analysis”, “sperm parameters”, “motility”, “ROS” and “DNA fragmentation”. After carefully reviewing the current literature, 30 relevant manuscripts, written in English and published between January 1979 and December 2016, were selected for inclusion in the current review. Ejaculatory abstinence duration was categorized into the following groups: ≤1 day, 2−3 days, 4−5 days, 6−7 days and ˃7 days. The weight of the evidence suggests that the decline in semen volume and sperm concentration with shorter abstinence periods is accompanied by a substantial improvement in sperm motility characteristics, especially progressive motility and velocity. Available data are insufficient to support definitive conclusions regarding the influence of ejaculatory abstinence on advanced semen parameters (ROS, DNA fragmentation and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity) and pregnancy rates. However, when taking all data into account shortening of the abstinence period could be beneficial to sperm quality. It is furthermore recommended that the current guidelines regarding the prescribed abstinence period should be revisited.