A recent study from Oxford University suggests that more frequent ejaculation may actually be beneficial, which is a bit of a surprise to many. Published on March 25, the research explored how abstaining from ejaculation affects sperm, not just in humans but also in various animals.
Typically, discussions about reproduction focus heavily on female biology, which often leads to the perception of a biological “ticking clock.” Women are born with a finite number of eggs, meaning as they age, so do their eggs, leading to concerns about fertility.
In contrast, men continuously produce sperm starting from puberty, and these reproductive cells can be stored in the reproductive tract prior to ejaculation. So, what really happens to sperm during this storage period?
Does abstinence affect sperm health?
For years, it was thought that abstaining from ejaculation for brief periods could increase sperm count. While that’s partially accurate, other critical factors affect fertility too. The study revealed that storing sperm during abstinence can lead to its ‘aging’ and a decline in quality.
Male fertility does diminish with age, but it’s less clear how the time sperm spends in storage affects this decline. Notably, the researchers point out a decreasing trend in sexual activity, especially among younger people, which may tie back to the growing tendency to delay parenthood. This situation could lead to a broader decline in fertility rates.
The researchers analyzed semen data from 115 studies involving nearly 55,000 men, concluding that abstaining dramatically reduces sperm health, affecting their motility and viability, and even resulting in increased DNA damage.
Causes of sperm damage
There seem to be two primary reasons for this degradation. First, there’s something referred to as oxidative stress—a form of biological “rust” that accumulates on sperm and can cause physical damage. The second factor is energy depletion. Sperm are quite active and have limited abilities to replenish energy reserves; when they are stored too long, they simply run out of fuel.
The World Health Organization currently advises against ejaculating two to seven days prior to a sperm analysis or fertility treatments like IVF. However, this new research suggests that shorter abstinence periods might actually enhance sperm quality, supporting the notion that ejaculating within 48 hours of sampling can improve IVF success rates. Interestingly, studies on primates indicate that frequent ejaculation, even from masturbation, enhances ejaculate quality, suggesting that this behavior might help eliminate damaged sperm.
Moreover, sperm can deteriorate even after mating, with human sperm lasting only a few days inside a female body, while some animals, like bees, can store sperm for months or even years.
Comparison to animals
Data from 56 studies involving 30 animal species—from birds to mammals—also highlighted a decline in sperm quality during storage. This decline isn’t solely due to DNA damage but may also relate to different expression profiles in stored versus newly produced sperm. Notably, sperm stored in females showed slower deterioration rates, possibly attributed to specialized organs that secrete antioxidants.
The researchers concluded that while many fertility issues arise from uncontrollable factors like environmental toxins and genetics, the duration of sperm storage can be managed. Freshly ejaculated sperm likely enhances fertility outcomes due to improved overall quality.
