Journal of Fertilization: In Vitro - IVF-Worldwide, Reproductive Medicine, Genetics & Stem Cell Biol
Open Access

Abstract

Sperm DNA Fragmentation is Significantly Increased in Those Men with Morphologically Abnormal Spermatozoa

Javier García-Ferreyra, Lucy Villegas, Rocío Romero Obst, Patricia Zavala Obst, Roly Hilario, Giovanni Casafranca and Julio Dueñas-Chacón

Purpose: To evaluate the levels of DNA fragmentation regarding to spermatozoa morphology in male infertility patients attending Andrology Laboratory at fertility center.  Methods: Semen samples of 196 patients were analyzed using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test. According to the values of sperm morphology, the groups were conformed by teratozoospermic (105 patients) and normozoospermic (91 patients) men.  Results: Subjects’ ages ranged from 21 to 68 years. Teratozoospermic men were older that the normozoospermic men (39.72 ± 7.86 vs. 36.57 ± 6.29 years; P<0.05). Values of pH were similar in both evaluated groups (P:NS). Parameters of volume, concentration, motility and vitality in teratozoospermic men were significantly lower compared to those normozoospermic patients (P<0.05). High levels of DNA fragmentation were observed in those patients with abnormal sperm morphology compared to normozoospermic men (44.31 ± 7.52 vs. 34.92 ± 5.89; P<0.05).  Conclusions: Men with abnormal spermatozoa morphology showed high levels of DNA fragmentation. These significantly high percentages of sperm DNA damage will be an additional factor that drastically reduces the possibility of success in these infertile men.