Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37969774›Full record

ArticleTranslational andrology and urology2023

Improved sperm DNA fragmentation levels in infertile men following very short abstinence of 3-4 hours.

Gilad Karavani, Tristan S J Juvet, Susan Lau, Katherine Lajkosz, Brendan Mullen, Kirk C Lo, Ethan D Grober, Bader Akroof, Mohamed S Kattan, Keith Jarvi

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational andrology and urology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Fertility.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Gilad Karavani *Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tristan S J Juvet *Department of Surgery, Lions Gate Hospital, North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Susan LauDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Katherine LajkoszDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Brendan MullenDepartment of Pathology, Mount Sinai Hospital and New Women's College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Kirk C LoDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Ethan D GroberDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bader AkroofDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Mohamed S KattanDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Keith JarviDivision of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
University of Toronto · CAMount Sinai Hospital · CALions Gate Hospital · CAWomen's College Hospital · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Limited data exists on possible approaches to improve sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) when no identifiable cause is found. The effect of short abstinence on sperm parameters has been extensively studied, but rarely reported on the effect on DFI in infertile men. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a second ejaculate provided after very short abstinence demonstrates lower DFI rates in infertile men. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, a tertiary university affiliated hospital. All men having DFI testing in addition to the standard semen analysis were identified via a prospectively collected database. Infertile men were instructed to provide two semen samples 3-4 hours apart (the first sample was given after 2-5 days of abstinence) to test the effect on DFI levels. Data analysis was performed for the comparison of the change in sperm parameters and DFI between samples and between men with DFI above and under 30%. Results: A total of 52 men provided double ejaculates 3-4 hours apart. In the entire group, DFI decreased from 38.9%±21.4% to 35.1%±21.6% in the second sample (P<0.001). Semen volume was lower on the second sample (2.3±1.4 Conclusions: This study identified significant improvements in DFI in infertile men providing a second sample after 3-4 hours. Controlled trials are needed to determine if reproductive outcomes are improved using a second ejaculate for infertile men with high initial sperm DFI values.

Indexed as

AbstinenceDNA fragmentation index (DFI)infertilityspermsperm DNA fragmentation (SDF)

Identifiers

PMID37969774
PMCPMC10643391
OpenAlexW4387959707

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.