Collection of semen from men in acute phase of spinal cord injury

In chronic spinal cord injury, semen obtained by assisted ejaculation is usually abnormal. We have assessed electroejaculation early after injury in seven patients. There were no adverse effects. Initial samples contained few or no spermatozoa but as patients emerged from spinal shock, semen improved and five had specimens cryopreserved. Thereafter sperm motility and viability decreased towards the pattern of chronic spinal cord injury by day 16. Cryopreservation was not possible in one patient with many medical complications and another who started electroejaculation 15 days after injury. Semen storage within the first 2 weeks after spinal cord injury is recommended for future fertility treatment.