Scientists have proven that daily sex can help improve the quality of sperm, increasing the chances of fertility.
Img: The Kiss. Credit: ValetheKid/flickr
According to an Australian study presented during the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam yesterday, ejaculating daily helps men reduce DNA damage to sperm.
Dr. David Greening, an obstetrician and gynaecologist with sub-specialist training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Sydney IVF, Wollongong, Australia, told the conference:
"All that we knew was that intercourse on the day of ovulation offered the highest chance of pregnancy, but we did not know what was the best advice for the period leading up to ovulation or egg retrieval for IVF."
"I thought that frequent ejaculation might be a physiological mechanism to improve sperm DNA damage, while maintaining semen levels within the normal, fertile range," Dr. Greening said.
The team came to the conclusion following a period of extensive research conducted on 118 men with higher than normal sperm DNA damage, according to the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology.
According to the society, the subjects were asked to ejaculate daily for seven days, with no other treatment or lifestyle changes included in the regime.
"Before they started, levels of DNA damage ranged between 15% and 98% DFI, with an average 34% DFI when measured after three days' abstinence," said the release.
"When the men's sperm was re-assessed on the seventh day, Dr. Greening found that 96 men (81%) had an average 12% decrease in their sperm DNA damage, while 22 men (19%) and an average increase in damage of nearly 10%. The average for the whole group dropped to 26% DFI," it added.
Assessing the research, Dr. Greening said: "Although the mean average was 26% which is in the 'fair' range for sperm quality, this included 18% of men whose sperm DNA damage increased as well as those whose DNA damage decreased."
"Amongst the men whose damage decreased, their average dropped by 12% to just under 23% DFI, which puts them in the 'good' range. Also, more men moved into the 'good' range and out of the 'poor' or 'fair' range. These changes were substantial and statistically highly significant," he explained.
"In addition, we found that although frequent ejaculation decreased semen volume and sperm concentrations, it did not compromise sperm motility and, in fact, this rose slightly but significantly."
Dr. Greening said the optimum days for ejaculation may be less or more than a week but this appeared "manageable and favourable". He concluded that the lack of DNA was the reduced exposure the sperm had to the testicular ducts andepididymis to reactive oxygen species – very small molecules, high levels of which can damage cells.
"The remainder of the men who had an increase in DFI might have a different explanation for their sperm DNA damage," he said.
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