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Faulty sperm may be the reason why women suffer multiple miscarriages, scientists suspect, after finding that men whose partners struggle to carry a child to term have more DNA errors.

Researchers at Imperial College investigated the sperm quality of 50 men whose partners had experienced three or more consecutive miscarriages.

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After comparing the results with the sperm health of 60 male volunteers whose partners had healthy pregnancies, they found the miscarriage group had twice as much damage to their DNA.

Dr Channa Jayasena, the lead author of the research, said: “Traditionally, doctors have focused attention on women when looking for the causes of recurrent miscarriage. The men’s health, and the health of their sperm, wasn’t analysed.

“However, this research adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests sperm health dictates the health of a pregnancy. For instance, previous research suggests sperm has an important role in the formation of the placenta, which is crucial for oxygen and nutrient supply to the foetus.”