[Impact of sperm DNA fragmentation on ART outcome]

Abstract

We have used the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) test in order to determine if correlations can be found between sperm DNA fragmentation and spermogram parameters. Only necrospermia and DNA fragmentation index are strongly correlated (P<0.0001). Neither fertilization rates for ICSI and IVF, nor blastocyst formation rates are impaired by a high DFI. However when the critical DFI>30% is reached, the chances of having ongoing pregnancies after blastocyst transfer are reduced by three. Treatments with antioxidants are of limited efficacy even though we obtained 2 deliveries after DFI treatments with such treatments. New strategies in order to improve the pregnancy rates for these peculiar cases of reduced fertility are discussed.