Seminal parameters of ejaculates collected from oligospermic and normospermic patients via masturbation and at intercourse with the use of a Silastic seminal fluid collection device.

Seminal fluid parameters of ejaculates collected via intercourse with the use of a new Silastic seminal fluid collection device (SCD; HDC Corporation, Mountain View, CA) and via masturbation were compared. Thirty couples participated in this study. All males produced two specimens within 8 days with exactly 4 days of sexual abstinence each time. Thirteen patients were classified as oligospermic and the remaining 17 as normospermic on the basis of sperm numbers per milliliter. Each male patient subjectively rated (scale, 0 to 10) his sexual stimulation elicited during production of specimens with the use of the two methods. Specimens were evaluated and compared. Significant increases (P less than 0.05) were observed in all parameters observed within each group of patients when the SCD and masturbation methods were compared. The improvements in sperm parameters because of the method of collection were greater (P less than 0.05) in the oligospermic group than in the normospermic group of patients. The results point out that the SCD, as applied in this study, can assist in the improvement of the collected specimens and produce a specimen that closely resembles the ejaculate obtained during intercourse. In addition, the SCD, as shown in this study, can be of greater assistance to male infertility patients with oligospermia and other spermatogenic dysfunctions.