Factors which damage of sperm DNA fragmentation are excessive heat, smoking, chemotherapy, chronic infections. Causes of sperm DNA fragmentation includes abnormal spermatid maturation, recreational drugs, advanced chronological age. The different types of Sperm DNA fragmentation test include SCSA, and Sperm Comet Test.

Let’s Discuss in More Details About Sperm DNA Fragmentation:

DNA fragmentation is a test for male fertility which measures the amount of damaged DNA in a given sperm sample. DNA fragmentation can occur spontaneously or it can be done intentionally by laboratory personnel. Spontaneous DNA fragmentation is fragmentation that gradually accumulates in a cell. DNA fragmentation is more common among men with sperm motility defects. It is useful for predicting outcomes for In vitro Fertilization (IVF) and its expansion intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The main units of measurement are the DFI (DNA Fragmentation Index). The abnormal genetic material present in the sperm, can, in turn, lead to male subfertility, IVF failure, and miscarriage. A conventional semen analysis is done to check the sperm concentration while motility analysis and morphology assessment cannot analyze the sperm at the molecular level hence DNA fragmentation test helps in finding out faulty DNA in sperms. Sperms with high DNA fragmentation fertilizing younger oocytes carry a better prognosis of achieving a successful pregnancy. All men have some amount of damaged DNA in their sperms; higher damage may indicate greater difficulty in achieving pregnancy with IVF and IUI. (1) (2)

Factors that Damage Sperm DNA

DNA damage increases with age, men in their 50s or 60s have a higher percentage of sperm fragmentation as compared to men in their 30s or 20s. (3) Other factors that damage sperm DNA include the following:

Exposure to various chemicals or toxic agents

Excessive heat

Chronic infections in the prostate

Chemotherapy

Radiation or smoking

In order to prevent further damage to DNA, doctors may recommend drawing sperms directly from the testicle with a needle or suggest some antioxidant vitamins that help minimize the damage.

Causes of Sperm DNA Fragmentation

One of the major contributing factors for sperm DNA fragmentation is oxidative stress, which can be associated with one or more of the following (4):

Intrinsic causes such as deficiencies in recombination during Spermatogenesis

Abnormal Spermatid Maturation

Infection and Pyrexia

Variations In Sperm Protamine Expression

Abortive Apoptosis

Elevated Testicular Temperature

Recreational drugs

Extrinsic causes like Lapse of Time from the Ejaculation

Excessive Smoking and Alcoholism

Oxidative Stress and Unhealthy Diet

Environmental and Occupational Pollutants

Advanced Chronological Age (5)

Who can Benefit from Sperm Fragmentation Test

The need for Sperm Fragmentation Test arises when there is (5):

Unexplained infertility

Arrested embryo development

Poor blastocyst development

Unsuccessful attempts for IVF and ICSI treatments

Miscarriage

Advanced chronological age

Varicocoele

Poor semen parameters

Exposure to harmful substances

The significance of DNA Fragmentation Test

The fragmentation test can determine what percentage of sperms has fragmentation. Less than 15 percent damage means a very good outcome, while 16 to 29 percent means a moderate outcome. More than 30 percent damage means higher sperm fragmentation that indicates difficulty in achieving a healthy pregnancy, even with IVF. High sperm DNA fragmentation level affects blastocyst development and there are higher chances of failed assisted conception treatment and miscarriage. (6)

Sperm DNA fragmentation is higher in subfertile men with abnormal sperm parameters; however, men with normal sperm parameters can also develop sperm abnormality. Embryos from sperm with highly fragmented DNA are likely to have a poor prognosis. High level of DNA fragmentation could result in the initiation of natural cellular death (apoptosis) and abnormalities in the offspring.

Different kinds of Test for Sperm DNA Fragmentation

There are different types of tests available to assess the percentage of sperms with DNA fragmentation, such as the SCSA, TUNNEL assay and COMET assay. However, the test that has received the most attention is the Sperm Chromatin Structure Analysis (SCSA). (7)

Sperm Chromatin Structure Analysis (SCSA)

During the SCSA test, a special dye is allowed to enter into the sperm cell, and the sperm is treated with a chemical. Generally, sperms with fragmented DNA take up more of the dye once it makes its way into crevices in the DNA molecule. With the help of a procedure called flow cytometry, the sperm that takes up lots of dye can be easily be differentiated from the sperm that takes up only a little dye (sperm with normal DNA). Finally, the percentage of each sperm with fragmented DNA can be graphed by using a computer program. A patient with a result of 8.2 percent comes under excellent to a good category with 8.2 percent of the sperm cells containing DNA damage. The SCSA test recommends that patients with higher than 25percent should skip IUI and go straight to IVF/ICSI for better results. (8)

Sperm Comet Test

Sperm Comet test is a second-generation DNA test that provides unique information by measuring the amount of DNA damage in individual sperm. Sperm Comet results predict the success of infertility treatments and the treatment type most likely to succeed. The percentage of sperm with DNA damage is detected with this test. If the result shows 45 percent damage, shows an average of 45 percent DNA damage in each sperm that was assessed. A flow cytometer is used for monitoring a fluorescent probe that interacts with the DNA molecule. (9)

Advantages of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Test

Sperm DNA fragmentation test provides a reliable analysis of sperm DNA integrity that may help to identify men who are at risk of infertility. It also provides information for clinical diagnosis, management, and treatment of male fertility.

Treatment of High Sperm DNA Fragmentation

Treatment of High Sperm DNA Fragmentation depends essentially on its causes. If the DNA damage is due to free radicals, lifestyle changes and a healthy diet designed to protect oxidative stress may help reduce the levels of DNA fragmentation. (10)

Other treatment options include the following:

Antibiotics in the co-existence of an infection

Changes in lifestyle factors known to cause DNA damage such as taking drugs, smoking in both partners, tobacco and occupation

Maintaining a healthy diet like eating foods rich in antioxidants, vitamin C & E, eating green vegetables, drinking lots of water,

Varicocele surgery

Testicular aspiration of sperm may have better DNA integrity than ejaculated sperm since DNA damage occurs at the post-testicular level

ICSI Treatment rather than IVF Treatment

Antioxidants for three to six months such as astaxanthin either alone or combined with other antioxidants are also known to reduce DNA damage.

Initiatives can be taken by going through a second test three months later to reduce the levels of DNA fragmentation.

Doctors may recommend a patient with high level of fragmented DNA to go for ICSI treatment rather than starting with IVF directly. This significantly reduces the length of treatment time and improves the chances of success.

If you would like to find out more about male infertility assessments, you can consult OVO fertility. OVO Fertility also provides medical loans at zero percent interest rate for those who need financial help. You can reach us at +918268260808.