Relationship Between Sperm DNA Fragmentation And The Outcomes Of In Vitro Fertilization

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation index on IVF outcomes, we study the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation and IVF fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good quality embryos rate, transferable embryo rate and pregnancies outcome.MethodsIn the period of March 2009 to August, 242 patients of Chongqing obstetrics and gynecology hospital were studied. Inclusion criteria: conventional IVF fertilization, assisted reproductive number<3 times, female age <38 years old, pure tubal factor infertility, MⅡoocytes≥4, fresh semen, excluded severe oligospermia and asthenospermia patients. Man take semen in the day of oocyte retrieval. First, According to WHO standards for routine semen analysis, including sperm density, viability, morphology, etc. Meanwhile, using SCD test detect sperm DFI. Then, the remaining semen used for conventional IVF fertilization. Spearman correlation analysis between sperm DFI, conventional semen parameters and IVF outcomes. Logistic regression analysis the effect of sperm DFI and sperm parameters on pregnancies outcome.ResultsThere was a negative statistical correlation between DFI and sperm forward motility(R=-0.355, P<0.001). A significant negative relationship was found between IVF fertilization rate and sperm DFI before and after density gradient processed(R=-0.223,P<0.001)(R=-0.136,P<0.05). However, no correlation was found between sperm DFI and cleavage rate, good quality embryos rate and transferable embryo rate. Sperm DFI have no significant effect on biochemical pregnancies and clinical pregnancies outcome.ConclusionsSperm DNA fragmentation can reflect semen quality information that independent of routine semen analysis. sperm DFI detection complement to routine semen analysis can better assess the semen quality. Sperm DFI affects IVF fertilization rates. Measurement of sperm DFI might have a certain extent clinical significance for predicting IVF fertilization rate. In the course of diagnosis and treatment of infertility, we combined with a comprehensive analysis of sperm DFI, might be helpful for improving the success rate of ART.