Scientists Say Frequent Ejaculation May Improve Sperm Quality and Fertility

Key Points:

• A large study led by the University of Oxford reveals that sperm quality declines the longer sperm are stored, challenging the common fertility advice of abstaining from ejaculation for several days before testing or treatment.
• Analysis of data from nearly 55,000 men and multiple animal species showed that frequent ejaculation is linked to healthier sperm with less DNA damage, suggesting shorter abstinence periods may improve fertility outcomes.
• The study highlights that sperm age independently of the male body, with sperm undergoing post-meiotic senescence that reduces motility, viability, and fertilization success over time.
• Female animals generally maintain sperm quality better during storage due to specialized reproductive adaptations, offering potential insights for improving artificial sperm storage technologies.
• These findings may prompt revisions to clinical guidelines, such as the WHO's seven-day abstinence recommendation, and have implications for assisted reproduction practices and conservation breeding programs.