The relative distribution of viable sperm in the antegrade and retrograde portions of ejaculates obtained after electrostimulation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relative concentration, motility, and viability of spermatozoa in the antegrade and retrograde portions of the ejaculate after electroejaculation in spinal cord injured men.

DESIGN

Retrospective.

SETTING

University outpatient clinic providing tertiary care in reproductive rehabilitation.

PATIENTS

The antegrade and retrograde portions of 22 ejaculates obtained from five spinal cord-injured men were analyzed for sperm density, mean sperm motility, and percentage of total motile and viable sperm yield.

RESULTS

The number of spermatozoa were uniformly distributed between the antegrade (54.4%) and retrograde (45.6%) ejaculates. However, of the total sperm yield in both compartments, 66.3% of the motile spermatozoa and 71% of the viable sperm were found in the antegrade compartment (P less than 0.05). Additionally, mean sperm motility was significantly higher in the antegrade ejaculate (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Significantly impaired sperm motility and viability are noted in the retrograde ejaculate. Efforts should therefore be directed to maximizing the antegrade portion of the electro-ejaculate and optimizing the technique of preserving functional sperm in the intravesical compartment.