The method of assisted ejaculation affects the outcome of semen quality studies in men with spinal cord injury: A review.

The methods of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and rectal probe electroejaculation (EEJ) are widely used to obtain semen from anejaculatory men with spinal cord injury. This paper reviews evidence that the semen quality resulting from PVS versus EEJ is different, and these methods should be used as variables in studies of men with spinal cord injury. The following evidence is reviewed. PVS and EEJ stimulate ejaculation by different mechanisms. In humans and monkeys, semen quality is different when obtained by PVS versus EEJ of the same group of subjects. In neurologically intact men, EEJ results in low sperm motility. Markers of accessory gland function are different in ejaculates obtained by PVS versus EEJ. For scientific studies, it is recommended that whenever possible, antegrade specimens obtained by PVS be used. For clinical applications, such as obtaining sperm for assisted reproductive procedures, the choice is less critical, however, PVS offers advantages over EEJ.