Sperm DNA fragmentation is an additional test for male fertility that identifies damaged DNA in a semen sample. DNA is considered damaged when there are breaks in the DNA strands. All men have some damage to the DNA of their sperm. However, increased DNA fragmentation may indicate greater difficulty in achieving and maintaining pregnancy.
A spermogram evaluates basic criteria (concentration, motility, and morphology), but it does not provide a complete assessment of male fertility.
During sperm maturation, their DNA is tightly packed in the sperm head with the help of specific protamine proteins. With a lack of these proteins, sperm become more vulnerable to oxidative stress, when too many reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed, resulting in increased DNA fragmentation. ROS in small amounts are essential for sperm maturation.
Breaks in DNA can occur as a result:
A DNA fragmentation test should be ordered:
There are various methods for determining DNA fragmentation, in our clinic we use SCD (sperm chromatin dispersion).
The SCD test is based on the principle that sperm with fragmented DNA are unable to produce the characteristic halo of dispersed DNA loops due to the presence of DNA strand breaks, and vice versa, sperm with intact DNA form a "halo" or halo of DNA loops.
Interesting statistics:
-84% of men with the result <15% achieved pregnancy within 3 months;
-10% of men with the result <30% achieved pregnancy within 4-12 months;
-10% of men with the result >30% did not achieve pregnancy.
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