New study finds that stored sperm deteriorates across the animal kingdom | University of Oxford
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Current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines typically recommend 2–7 days of abstinence before taking semen samples or assisted reproduction. However, a new study published today and led by Oxford University researchers suggests that regular ejaculation – whether through sexual activity or masturbation – results in higher quality sperm, with less DNA damage.

Monty Python might’ve sung “Every Sperm is Sacred,” but international researchers have found stored sperm might not be as “good” and “needed” as the song suggests. After looking at more than 150 studies on sperm storage in humans and other animal species, the team found men’s sperm performance might actually slightly deteriorate after a period of abstinence. They found “storage via sexual abstinence” was linked to a small but statistically meaningful decline in sperm performance that is likely due to increased DNA damage and oxidative stress. The team says their findings could provide information to help fertility clinics produce better quality embryos, as well as help researchers who are breeding animals in captivity

  • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    9 days ago

    It also makes no sense. Sperm only live a couple of months, so logic dictates that they’d be strongest sometime in the first 1-4 weeks. Their youth; not in middle to old age.