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A randomised trial comparing conventional semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation levels and satisfaction levels between semen collection at home and at the clinic
Author(s) -
Gao Jing,
Duan YongGang,
Yi Xiang,
Yeung William S. B.,
Ng Ernest H. Y.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.13628
Subject(s) - semen , outpatient clinic , dna fragmentation , semen analysis , semen quality , sperm , medicine , infertility , male infertility , andrology , gynecology , biology , pregnancy , genetics , apoptosis , programmed cell death
Abstract The aim of the randomised trial was to compare conventional semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation levels and satisfaction levels between semen samples collected at home and at the clinic. We recruited 110 men with a history of infertility for at least 1 year from the outpatient andrology clinic. Each man collected two semen samples, one at home and one at the clinic. Men were randomly assigned into the home first ( n = 55) or clinic first ( n = 55) groups. The primary outcome was sperm concentration. There was no significant difference in sperm concentration, sperm DNA fragmentation levels or other conventional semen parameters between home first and clinic first samples ( p > .05), while satisfaction levels were significantly higher for home first samples ( p < .01). Consistent results were obtained when comparing home‐collected and clinic‐collected samples within individuals. Men can be offered the option to collect semen samples at home for examination or assisted reproduction without compromising semen quality, especially for those with difficulty in producing semen samples at the clinic.