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By: The Conversation
While female fertility is often described in terms of a biological clock, male reproduction works differently. Women are born with a fixed number of eggs, which age over time, but men continuously produce sperm from puberty, meaning their age does not always reflect the age of their sperm.
However, new research suggests that sperm can deteriorate the longer it is stored in the male reproductive system before ejaculation.
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Men trying to conceive are commonly advised to abstain from sex for several days to increase sperm count. Although this does raise the number of sperm, the study shows that prolonged abstinence may reduce sperm quality. Stored sperm tend to “age,” leading to reduced motility, lower viability, and increased DNA damage.
Researchers analysed data from 115 studies involving nearly 55,000 men and found that sperm health declined significantly during periods of abstinence.
Two main factors were identified: oxidative stress, which damages sperm cells, and energy depletion, as sperm have limited ability to replenish their energy while stored.
The findings come at a time when sexual activity is reportedly declining, especially among younger people, alongside a global trend of delayed parenthood—both of which could contribute to falling fertility rates.
Although the World Health Organization recommends abstaining for two to seven days before providing a sperm sample, the study suggests that shorter intervals may actually improve sperm quality.
Supporting this, other research indicates that ejaculating within 48 hours before fertility procedures like IVF can lead to better outcomes.
From an evolutionary perspective, frequent ejaculation may help remove older, damaged sperm, effectively improving overall sperm quality.
The study also found that sperm can deteriorate after entering the female body, although in some species, females have biological mechanisms that preserve sperm for longer periods.
Further analysis across multiple animal species confirmed that sperm quality declines over time in storage, whether in males or females. This decline was linked to lower chances of embryo survival, possibly due to DNA damage or changes in gene activity.
Interestingly, sperm tends to last longer inside females, likely due to protective mechanisms such as antioxidant-rich environments.
Overall, the research highlights that sperm, like eggs, have a limited lifespan. Using freshly produced sperm may therefore improve fertility outcomes, offering a simple factor that couples can adjust when trying to conceive.
