Sperm DNA fragmentation: A new guideline for clinicians

Sperm DNA integrity is crucial for fertilization and development of healthy offspring. The spermatozoon undergoes extensive molecular remodeling of its nucleus during later phases of spermatogenesis, which imparts compaction and protects the genetic content. Testicular (defective maturation and abortive apoptosis) and post-testicular (oxidative stress) mechanisms are implicated in the etiology of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), which affects both natural and assisted reproduction. Several clinical and environmental factors are known to negatively impact sperm DNA integrity. An increasing number of reports emphasizes the direct relationship between sperm DNA damage and male infertility. Currently, several assays are available to assess sperm DNA damage, however, routine assessment of SDF in clinical practice is not recommended by professional organizations

Sperm DNA fragmentation index and cumulative live birth rate in a cohort of 2,713 couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment

Objective: To study how the choice of the first assisted reproductive technology treatment type affects the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR) in couples with high sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting: University-affiliated fertility clinic. Patient(s): A total of 2,713 infertile couples who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment between 2007 and 2017 were included in the study. All in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments (up to three fresh treatments and all associated frozen-thawed embryo transfers) offered to the couples by the public health care system were included, in total 5,422 cycles. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): The primary outcome was the CLBR. The secondary outcomes were the fertilization rate and the miscarriage rate. The IVF and ICSI groups were defined according to the method applied in the first treatment cycle. Result(s): In the IVF group, the CLBR values were higher for couples with normal DFI compared with those for couples with high DFI (≥20%) (48.1% vs. 41.6% for conservative CLBR estimate and 55.6% vs. 51.4% for optimal CLBR estimate after adjustment for female age, respectively). No DFI-dependent difference was seen in the ICSI group. Conclusion(s): Our results demonstrated that a high DFI predicts a statistically significantly lower CLBR if IVF and not ICSI is applied in the first cycle of assisted reproduction