OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative concentration, motility, and viability of spermatozoa in the antegrade and retrograde portions of the ejaculate after electroejaculation in spinal cord injured men. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: University outpatient clinic providing tertiary care in reproductive rehabilitation. PATIENTS: The antegrade and retrograde portions of 22 ejaculates obtained from five spinal cord-injured men were analyzed for sperm density, mean sperm motility, and percentage of total motile and viable sperm yield. RESULTS: The number of spermatozoa were uniformly distributed between the antegrade (54.4%) and retrograde (45.6%) ejaculates. However, of the total sperm yield in both compartments, 66.3% of the motile spermatozoa and 71% of the viable sperm were found in the antegrade compartment (P less than 0.05). Additionally, mean sperm motility was significantly higher in the antegrade ejaculate (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly impaired sperm motility and viability are noted in the retrograde ejaculate. Efforts should therefore be directed to maximizing the antegrade portion of the electro-ejaculate and optimizing the technique of preserving functional sperm in the intravesical compartment.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative concentration, motility, and viability of spermatozoa in the antegrade and retrograde portions of the ejaculate after electroejaculation in spinal cord injured men. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: University outpatient clinic providing tertiary care in reproductive rehabilitation. PATIENTS: The antegrade and retrograde portions of 22 ejaculates obtained from five spinal cord-injured men were analyzed for sperm density, mean sperm motility, and percentage of total motile and viable sperm yield. RESULTS: The number of spermatozoa were uniformly distributed between the antegrade (54.4%) and retrograde (45.6%) ejaculates. However, of the total sperm yield in both compartments, 66.3% of the motile spermatozoa and 71% of the viable sperm were found in the antegrade compartment (P less than 0.05). Additionally, mean sperm motility was significantly higher in the antegrade ejaculate (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Significantly impaired sperm motility and viability are noted in the retrograde ejaculate. Efforts should therefore be directed to maximizing the antegrade portion of the electro-ejaculate and optimizing the technique of preserving functional sperm in the intravesical compartment.