![Sample our Education journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5932/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Education.jpg"})
Abstract
The primary investigation of male infertility usually depends on semen samples collected by masturbation, yet very little is known about possible psychological influences on their quality. An exploratory assessment of 89 men's attitudes to semen analysis and the influence of psychogenic factors (mood, anxiety and sexual excitement) on the quality of the ejaculate has been performed. Specifically the hypothesis has been tested that depressed mood, anxiety and lack of sexual excitement, and/or disapproval of masturbation andlor embarrassment about semen collection, are associated with lower ejaculate volumes and spermatozoa1 counts. The data could not demonstrate an association between the various psychogenic variables measured (subjective pleasure and objective mood and anxiety) and the quality of the ejaculate. Thus measuring psychological status in men as an aid in detecting unrepresentative semen samples for analysis is unlikely to be rewarding. Currently the authors simply ask the patients whether they feel the volume delivered is representative of that deposited at coitus. Masturbation may not be the ideal way of collecting semen for analysis, but it is currently the most practical method.