PREDICTORS OF NECROSPERMIA IN MEN WITH SPINAL-CORD INJURY

Purpose: We identify predictors of the lowest yield of dead sperm in e jaculates of men with spinal cord injury. Materials and Methods: The p ercentages of dead immotile sperm and dead total sperm were compared i n 141 spinal cord injured and 52 normal men, Predictors of necrospermi a investigated in spinal cord injured men included specimen collection by vibratory stimulation versus electroejaculation, residence of sper m in antegrade versus retrograde specimens and level of injury. Result s: Spinal cord injured subjects had a significantly higher percentage of dead sperm in the immotile fraction and total specimen than control subjects. The percentage of dead sperm was lower in antegrade versus retrograde specimens and in specimens produced by vibratory stimulatio n versus electroejaculation. There was no difference in the percentage of dead sperm by level of injury.Conclusions: Of the parameters evalu ated only method and type of specimen collection were predictive of th e degree of necrospermia in men with spinal cord injury. Level of inju ry was not predictive. The ratio of dead-to-live immotile sperm in spi nal cord injured men was double that in normal men, indicating a patho logical mechanism for sperm cell death.