Sperm storage was linked to changes in sperm quality
A meta-analysis separated human sperm-quality findings from animal fertilization and embryo outcomes, with results also influenced by how individuals were sampled.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
In men, sperm storage through sexual abstinence was associated with more oxidative stress and DNA damage, alongside lower sperm viability and motility. In other animals, storage was linked to poorer fertilization success and embryo quality. The abstract does not establish corresponding effects on human pregnancy outcomes or an optimal abstinence interval.
The abstract gives no storage intervals, effect sizes or uncertainty estimates. Human sampling methods influenced results, and the animal fertilization findings cannot be assumed to describe human clinical outcomes.
Storage inside the body
The review examined sperm retained within an animal before ejaculation or fertilization. Its human findings concerned sperm characteristics, while the nonhuman evidence also included measures of fertilization success and embryo quality after storage.
Study methods shaped the results
How researchers sampled men affected the observed outcomes. In other animals, results varied with storage duration in males or females. These differences matter when interpreting a broad summary across species and research approaches.
The original publication
Sperm storage causes sperm senescence in human and non-human animals.
Sanghvi K, Dean R, Nakagawa S et al.
Proc Biol Sci · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41875988
- Record checked
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