Semen collection refers to the process of obtaining

semen Semen, also known as seminal fluid, is an organic bodily fluid created to contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads (sexual glands) and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize the female ovum. Sem ...

from human males or other animals with the use of various methods, for the purposes of

artificial insemination Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...

, or medical study (usually in fertility clinics). Semen can be collected via

masturbation Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinat ...

(e. g., from

stallion A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" nec ...

s and

canid Canidae (; from Latin, '' canis'', " dog") is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). There are three subfamilies found withi ...

s),

prostate massage Prostate massage is the massage or stimulation of the male prostate gland for medical purposes or sexual stimulation. The prostate takes part in the sexual response cycle, and is essential for the production of semen. Due to its proximity to the ...

, artificial vagina,

penile vibratory stimulation Vibroejaculation (or penile vibratory stimulation) is a means of inducing ejaculation through vibration. It is used for semen collection, and in humans, the management of anejaculation. One method of penile vibratory stimulation is the use of spec ...

(vibroejaculation) and

electroejaculation Electroejaculation is a procedure used to obtain semen samples from sexually mature male mammals. The procedure is used for breeding programs and research purposes in various species, as well as in the treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction in hum ...

. Semen can be collected from endangered species for cryopreservation of genetic resources.

By species

Humans

Methods of semen collection from humans include: *

Masturbation Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys such as vibrators, or combinat ...

, directing the sample into a clean cup. This is the most common way to collect a semen sample. *

Sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the penis into the vagina for sexual pleasure or reproduction.Sexual intercourse most commonly means penile–vaginal pene ...

using a special type of

condom A condom is a sheath-shaped Barrier contraception, barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a Sexually transmitted disease, sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female con ...

known as a

collection condom A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of inte ...

. Collection condoms are made from silicone or polyurethane, as

latex Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion) of polymer microparticles in water. Latexes are found in nature, but synthetic latexes are common as well. In nature, latex is found as a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants (angiosperms ...

is somewhat harmful to sperm. Many men prefer collection condoms to masturbation, and some religions prohibit masturbation entirely. Adherents of religions that prohibit contraception may use collection condoms with holes pricked in them. However, such samples are inferior to the ones collected by masturbation in clean cup.Padubidri; Daftary (2011). ''Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology, 15e.'' p. 203. *

Coitus interruptus ''Coitus interruptus'', also known as withdrawal, pulling out or the pull-out method, is a method of birth control in which a man, during sexual intercourse, withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina prior to ejaculation and then directs his ej ...

(withdrawal). With this technique, the man removes his penis from the vagina near the end of intercourse and ejaculates into a wide-necked cup or bottle. If an analysis of semen quality is required, this technique is generally not recommended as part of the ejaculation could be lost which decreases the accuracy of the results. * Surgical extraction, if for example a blockage in the

vas deferens The vas deferens or ductus deferens is part of the male reproductive system of many vertebrates. The ducts transport sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts in anticipation of ejaculation. The vas deferens is a partially coiled tube ...

is suspected to impede fertility, semen can be taken directly from the

epididymis The epididymis (; plural: epididymides or ) is a tube that connects a testicle to a vas deferens in the male reproductive system. It is a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube in adult humans, in length. It serves as an interconnection between the ...

. Such a collection is called percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA). Alternatively, the testicular tissue itself, instead of the sperm produced can be investigated. Then, the collecting method is called

testicular sperm extraction Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is a surgical procedure in which a small portion of tissue is removed from the testicle and any viable sperm cells from that tissue are extracted for use in further procedures, most commonly intracytoplasmic sperm ...

(TESE). A

Cochrane review Cochrane (previously known as the Cochrane Collaboration) is a British international charitable organisation formed to organise medical research findings to facilitate evidence-based choices about health interventions involving health professi ...

found insufficient evidence to recommend any specific surgical sperm retrieval technique for men with

azoospermia Azoospermia is the medical condition of a man whose semen contains no sperm. It is associated with male infertility, but many forms are amenable to medical treatment. In humans, azoospermia affects about 1% of the male population and may be seen ...

undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). *

Penile vibratory stimulation Vibroejaculation (or penile vibratory stimulation) is a means of inducing ejaculation through vibration. It is used for semen collection, and in humans, the management of anejaculation. One method of penile vibratory stimulation is the use of spec ...

(PVS) and

are two other alternatives for men with

anejaculation Anejaculation is the pathological inability to ejaculate despite an erection in males, with (''orgasmic'') or without (''anorgasmic'') orgasm. Causes It can depend on one or more of several causes, including: * Sexual inhibition * Pharmacologic ...

due to

spinal cord injury A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cor ...

. The penile vibratory stimulator is a plier-like device that is placed around the

glans penis In male human anatomy, the glans penis, commonly referred to as the glans, is the bulbous structure at the distal end of the human penis that is the human male's most sensitive erogenous zone and their primary anatomical source of sexual pl ...

to stimulate it by vibration, and provides the first-line method for sperm retrieval in spinal cord injury patients with anejaculation. The best specimen is produced when a short period of 3–5 days of

abstinence Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, but it can also mean abstinence from alcohol, drugs, food, etc. ...

is observed. More prolonged period does not yield better results.

Cattle

Horses

For semen collection from stallions, the most common method used is an artificial vagina; after collecting semen, it is tested, diluted, then stored according to the intended use. Semen can be either liquid or frozen. There are many kinds of preservatives used in dilution with semen - most contain energy and antibiotics for liquid, and protection from freezing for frozen semen. Many studies are ongoing to improve preservation, increase liquid semen storage time, and reduce or remove bacteria from semen.

Canids

Dogs

In order to collect semen from a male dog, an artificial vagina is prepared, which is a conical thin latex sleeve ending in a sterile collection tube. The inside of the latex sleeve is lightly lubricated. The male is allowed to sniff a female in estrus. Experienced studs cooperate readily in the process. New studs often require encouragement in the form of manual stimulation, also known as "manual ejaculation". Generally the male will mount the female, and the collector quickly directs the dog's penis into the latex sleeve. The male ejaculates and the semen is collected in the tube. The semen is then drawn up into a long thin pipette. Prior to ejaculation, the penis is massaged inside its sheath. It is then extruded from its sheath, and the collector massages the dog's erect penis near the base of the

bulbus glandis The bulbus glandis (also called a bulb or knot) is an erectile tissue structure on the penis of canid mammals. During mating, immediately before ejaculation the tissues swell up to lock ('' tie'') the male's penis inside the female. The locking ...

using the thumb and index finger. The dog begins pelvic thrusting movements at the onset of ejaculation.

Wolves

Semen can be collected from wolves via manual stimulation or electroejaculation.Thomassen, Ragnar, and W. Farstad. "Artificial insemination in canids: a useful tool in breeding and conservation." Theriogenology 71.1 (2009): 190-199.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * Schmitt, D. L., and T. B. Hildebrandt
"Manual collection and characterization of semen from Asian elephants (''Elephas maximus'')."
Animal reproduction science 53.1 (1998): 309–314. * Brown, Janine L., et al
"Successful artificial insemination of an Asian elephant at the National Zoological Park."
Zoo Biology 23.1 (2004): 45–63. * Howard, JoGayle, et al
"Electroejaculation, semen characteristics and serum testosterone concentrations of free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
" Journal of reproduction and fertility 72.1 (1984): 187-195.

Semen collection from rhinoceroses

* Cave, A. J. E
"THE PROCESSÜS GLANDIS IN THE RHINOCEROTIDAE."
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. Vol. 143. No. 4. Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 1964. * Schaffer, Nan, et al
"Ultrasonographic monitoring of artificially stimulated ejaculation in three rhinoceros species (Ceratotherium simum, Diceros bicornis, Rhinoceros unicornus)."
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (1998): 386-393. * Walzer, C., H. Pucher, and F. Schwarzenberger
"A restraint chute for semen collection in white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum)—preliminary results."
Proc. Eur. Assoc. Zoo Wildl. Vet.(EAZWV), Paris, France (2000): 7-10. * Beehler, B
"RESTRAINT CHUTES."
* Schaffer, N. E., et al.
Methods of semen collection in an ambulatory greater one‐horned rhinoceros (rhinoceros unicornis).
Zoo Biology 9.3 (1990): 211-221. * Roth, Terri L., et al.
Semen collection in rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis, Diceros bicornis, Ceratotherium simum)
by electroejaculation with a uniquely designed probe." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 36.4 (2005): 617-627. * Silinski, S., et al.
Pharmacological methods of enhancing penile erection for ex-copula semen collection in standing white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum).
Proc. of the combined meeting of the EAZWV and the EWDA. Heidelberg, Germany. 2002. * O'Brien, J. K., and T. L. Roth
"Post-coital sperm recovery and cryopreservation in the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and application to gamete rescue in the African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)."
Journal of reproduction and fertility 118.2 (2000): 263–271.

External links

The men's rooms
A British journalist takes a closer look at the phenomenon of semen collection. {{Assisted reproductive technology Livestock Male genital procedures Fertility medicine Semen Male masturbation Artificial insemination