science

Monty Python might’ve sung “Every Sperm is Sacred,” but international researchers have found stored sperm might not be as “good” and “needed” as the song suggests. After looking at more than 150 studies on sperm storage in humans and other animal species, the team found men’s sperm performance might actually slightly deteriorate after a period of abstinence. They found “storage via sexual abstinence” was linked to a small but statistically meaningful decline in sperm performance that is likely due to increased DNA damage and oxidative stress. The team says their findings could provide information to help fertility clinics produce better quality embryos, as well as help researchers who are breeding animals in captivity