The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) as prognostic factor in IVF/ICSI program

Abstract

In this study 60 couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were enrolled. All men were classified into two groups regarding to the DNA fractionation index (DFI) threshold value: group I < 15% and group II =or> 15%. In group I, median DFI was 4%, normal pre-implantation embryo development was observed and eleven pregnancies were achieved. In group II, median DFI was 23% and normal pre-implantation embryo development was also observed, but only two pregnancies were achieved. Our results suggest that the patients included in the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) should be diagnosed with the SCSA test and the DFI may be related to the outcome of fertilization process as well as to the number of transferred embryos and pregnancy.