Ejaculatory Induction with Vibratory and Electrical Stimulation and Semen Analysis in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

Park, Chang Il; Shin, Ji Cheol; Park, Eun Sook; Kim, Deog Young; Cho, Sung Rae; Kim, Yong Wook; Ohn, Suk Hoon

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to compare the quality of semen obtained by vibratory and electrical stimulation according to the injury level and to investigate the changes of semen by repeated ejaculations in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Seventeen spinal cord injured men had repeated ejaculations at least three times with vibratory (Ferticare ) and electrical stimulation (Seager ) at weekly interval.
RESULTS
In patients with lesions above the T10 level, the response rate was 91.7% by the vibratory stimulation and 100.0% by the electrical stimulation. The percentage of adequate sperm quality (total count of motile sperm > or = 5 105) was 81.8% by the vibratory stimulation and 66.7% by the electrical stimulation. In patients with lesions at and below the T10 level, all patients responded to the electrical stimulation, but not to the vibratory stimulation. The percentage of adequate sperm quality was 82.6% by the electrical stimulation. The quality of semen obtained by the vibratory stimulation was better than that of the electrical stimulation (p<0.05). Sperm quality didn't improve through the repeated ejaculations.
CONCLUSION
The vibratory ejaculation may be more effective in obtaining the adequate sperm quality in patients with lesions above the T10 level. However, the electrical stimulation may be more effective in patients with lesions at and below the T10 level. Repeated ejaculations for a short period may be ineffective for a sperm quality improvement.