OPTIMUM ABSTINENCE TIME FOR CRYOPRESERVATION OF SEMEN IN CANCER-PATIENTS

Although an abstinence period of 48 to 72 hours is the most commonly p rescribed interval for diagnostic semen analysis, to our knowledge the association between the abstinence period and sperm quality after cry opreservation has not been identified. Patients with a malignant disea se who are consulting for semen banking most often require urgent ther apy. Consequently, defining the shortest abstinence period that allows for frequent semen collection within a limited interval and the best post-thaw sperm quality is necessary. We investigated the relationship between abstinence period, and the pre-freeze and post-thaw motility variables in semen specimens obtained from cancer patients for sperm b anking. Samples collected from 95 patients were divided according to a bstinence period: group 1-15 patients at 24 to less than 48 hours, gro up 2-53 at 48 to less than 72 hours and group 3-27 at more than 72 hou rs. Pre-freeze and post-thaw motile sperm count and motion variables ( motility, velocity, linearity, amplitude of lateral head movement and motility index), and percentage decrease in sperm variables after cryo preservation were analyzed. Semen volume, the pre-freeze and post-thaw motile sperm count, motion parameters and the percentage decrease in semen variables did not differ significantly among the groups. We conc lude that semen collection for cryopreservation after 24 to less than 48 hours of abstinence results in post-thaw quality comparable to that after an abstinence of 48 to less than 72 hours or longer. Thus, an a bstinence period of 24 to less than 48 hours can be recommended for sp erm banking in cancer patients.