SEMEN QUALITY IN SPINAL-CORD INJURED MEN - DOES IT PROGRESSIVELY DECLINE POSTINJURY

Objective: To determine if semen quality of men with spinal cord injur y (SCI) undergoes a progressive decline as a function of years postinj ury. Design: A retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data. Setting : University-based research center. Subjects: Semen quality was examin ed in 638 specimens from 125 men with SCI. Intervention: Penile vibrat ory stimulation, electroejaculation, and masturbation were used as sem en retrieval methods. Routine semen analysis was performed to evaluate semen quality. Main Outcome Measures: Sperm concentration, total sper m count, and percent sperm motility were examined at 2-year intervals from men whose injuries had occurred 6 weeks to 26 years earlier. Resu lts: No difference in any semen parameter was found as a function of t ime postinjury. Conclusions: Semen quality in men with SCI does not pr ogressively decline after the SCI. Men with SCI who are considering bi ologic fatherhood should be advised that the number of years after inj ury need not be a determinant in deciding when to start a family. (C) 1998 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Ameri can Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.