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Sperm DNA fragmentation, recurrent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage
Carol Coughlan1, Helen Clarke2, Rachel Cutting2, Jane Saxton2, Sarah Waite1, William Ledger3, Tinchiu Li2, Allan A Pacey1
1 Department of Human Metabolism, Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF, United Kingdom
2 Assisted Conception Unit, Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF, United Kingdom
3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Correspondence Address:
Allan A Pacey
Department of Human Metabolism, Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Level 4, The Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF
United Kingdom
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.144946
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Evidence is increasing that the integrity of sperm DNA may also be related to implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage (RM). To investigate this, the sperm DNA fragmentation in partners of 35 women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) following in vitro fertilization, 16 women diagnosed with RM and seven recent fathers (control) were examined. Sperm were examined pre- and post-density centrifugation by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. There were no significant differences in the age of either partner or sperm concentration, motility or morphology between three groups. Moreover, there were no obvious differences in sperm DNA fragmentation measured by either test. However, whilst on average sperm DNA fragmentation in all groups was statistically lower in prepared sperm when measured by the SCD test, this was not seen with the results from the TUNEL assay. These results do not support the hypothesis that sperm DNA fragmentation is an important cause of RIF or RM, or that sperm DNA integrity testing has value in such patients. It also highlights significant differences between test methodologies and sperm preparation methods in interpreting the data from sperm DNA fragmentation tests. |
